Kansas City, MO (My Sportsbook) - Alex Gordon homered to help the Kansas City Royals defeat the Boston Red Sox, 4-3, in the first game of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium.

Mark Teahen collected two hits an RBI and a run scored for the Royals, who won for the seventh time in eight games.

Dustin Pedroia scored a run on a game-high three hits for the Red Sox, who fell for the first time in four games.

Gil Meche (10-9) won his fourth straight start after yielding two runs on four hits and five walks in six innings. The red-hot righty, who also struck out nine, is 7-1 since June 10.

On the other hand, Clay Buchholz (2-7) has not won since May 2. The struggling rookie was tagged for four runs on seven hits and three walks in six frames. Buchholz struck out four in the losing effort as he fell to 0-5 in eight road starts.

The Royals trailed 2-1, but posted a three-run third and they led the rest of the way. Mike Aviles and Esteban German got it going with consecutive one-out singles before moving to second and third respectively on a Buchholz wild pitch. Aviles came around courtesy of a base hit to left by Teahen and after a walk to Jose Guillen, German raced home on a Billy Butler sacrifice fly to right. Gordon was then walked to load the bases and John Buck was hit on an 0-1 pitch to force in Teahen.

Joakim Soria got into a jam in the ninth, but settled down to earn his 32nd save of the season. Coco Crisp led off with a base hit up the middle and two batters later advanced to second on a one-out hit by Pedroia. Both runners moved into scoring position as David Ortiz grounded out, and Kansas City decided to intentionally walk Kevin Youkilis to load the bases. Crisp raced home when Jason Bay reached on an infield single to make it 4-3, but Soria got Sean Casey to fly out to end the game.

Bay has hit safely in all four games since joining Boston, which fell to KC for the first time in five games this season.

The Red Sox opened up the scoring with two runs in the first inning. A lead- off walk to J.D. Drew proved to cost Meche as the runner moved to third on a Pedroia double before coming home via a groundout by Ortiz. Pedroia crossed the plate one batter later on a double to right by Youkilis.

The Royals first run came in the second inning thanks to Gordon's 13th home run of the season, a solo shot to right on the first pitch.

Game Notes

The Red Sox opened up a seven-game road trip...The Red Sox had played 270 regular season games since their last trip to KC when they opened up the 2007 season...The five walks allowed by Meche were the most he has allowed all season...It was the first career start for Buchholz versus the Royals...The Red Sox fell to 49-17 when scoring first...Pedroia has hit safely in each of his last 25 road games...Soria has a save against all 17 teams he has faced this season.