Red Sox Edge Royals 4-3

BOSTON — Lefty starter Bruce Chen found his groove after a shaky start, but the Boston Red Sox still managed to beat the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Friday night at Fenway Park.

With the win, the Red Sox (60-66, 30-37 home) snapped a four-game losing streak.

A two-run RBI double by David Ortiz gave Boston a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Chen (5.41 ERA) managed to stop the bleeding however, giving up just three runs on eight hits in 6 innings, striking out five and walking one.

In the third, Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer cut the deficit to 2-1 with a solo home run over the Green Monster in left field. Alex Gordon tied the game with an RBI double.

Kansas City (55-69, 29-36 away) took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on an infield RBI single by second baseman Johnny Giavotella.

Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera blew that lead in the seventh. A two-run RBI double by Red Sox third baseman Pedro Ciriaco put the Red Sox back on top 4-3. Herrera (1-2, 2.66 ERA) earned the loss, surrendering one run on two hits in 1/3 inning.

In the ninth, reliever Andrew Bailey (2.70 ERA) recorded his first save of the season.

Red Sox starter Jon Lester earned the win. Lester (8-10, 4.98 ERA) gave up three runs on six hits in 7 innings, fanning six and walking four.

Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie (2-3, 3.23 ERA) takes the hill against Red Sox right-handed pitcher Josh Beckett (5-11, 5.23 ERA) for game two at Fenway Park on Saturday night.