Kason Gabbard pitched his first Major League complete game shutout while Manny Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia, and David Ortiz hit homeruns in the 4-0 win over the Kansas City Royals (39-53).
Gabbard (3-0) went the distance throwing 107 pitches (71 for strikes) in the outting setting a season high in strikeouts with eight, allowing three hits, walked one and hit two batters to earn his third win of the season.
Pedroia (4) and Ramirez’ (13) homeruns both came in the fourth inning off of Kansas City starter Brian Bannister (5-6) as Pedroia belted one over the Green Monster and Ramirez went big fly to center field.
Bannister who only went 6 innings in the loss, gave up five hits, four runs, no walks, three strikeouts, and three homeruns.
The third homerun came in the bottom of the sixth as Ortiz wrapped the ball around Pesky Pole for his 16th homerun of the season.
Gabbard’s ninth inning to complete the shutout was of the 1-2-3 fashion getting David Dejesus to line out to center field, struck out Mark Grudzielanek swinging, and finished off the ninth by striking out Mark Teahen swinging as well.
Gabbard lowered his ERA more than full run from 4.87 to a whopping 3.37 ERA in the shutout against the Royals.
Boston’s rookie starter also threw four 1-2-3 innings in the game and the first base runner to reach was Dejesus who was hit by a pitch to start off the top of the fourth inning.
Gabbard had retired the first nine batters in a row until plunking Dejesus and allowed his first hit of the night to Emil Brown on a single to right field. Brown finished the night going 2-3 in the ball game.
