The Royals avoided a crucial sweep with an 8-4 win over the Red Sox from Kauffman Stadium. Bobby Witt Jr. slugged a pair of solo homers and finished with four RBI. Vinnie Pasquantino also went deep and Cole Ragans got the win after giving up one earned run over six-plus innings. Kansas City now leads Boston for the last AL Wild Card spot by one-and-a-half games. The Royals snapped a two-game losing skid and sit third in the AL Central at 64-and-52. They remain home to host the St. Louis Cardinals tomorrow night. Right-hander Michael Lorenzen will start opposite St. Louis righty Miles Mikolas.