with Ivan Rabb and California should reveal plenty about this team on the interior.Each game presents different matchups, Bennett said, but we tried to be a little more intentional getting to t

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Justin Maxwell has provided a huge boost for Kansas City since coming over from the Astros. Maxwell homered and then singled twice in a six-run sixth as the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 9-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. The Royals have won 15 of their past 17 games to move seven games above .500, matching their best record of the season. They are 4 1-2 games back in the wild-card standings. "Its just team chemistry, no matter whos at the plate or whos on the mound, we all have each others backs," Maxwell said. "Thats the main thing." Maxwell, who the Royals acquired on July 31 from the Astros for a minor league pitcher, homered leading off the second. With the Royals trailing 6-3 in the sixth, he led off the inning with a single. The Royals sent 11 men to the plate in the inning against Red Sox pitchers Jake Peavy, Drake Britton and Pedro Beato. "I led off, just trying to get on base, not do too much," Maxwell said. "It was just one good at-bat after another good at-bat. I think thats how you roll." Maxwell was making his first start in centre and only his fourth start since joining the Royals, but manager Ned Yost promises he will be seeing plenty more action. "Hes got the opportunity to change the game with one swing," Yost said. "Well keep running him out there." Peavy, who was making his second Red Sox start since being acquired in a July 30 trade from the Chicago White Sox, yielded singles to Maxwell, Mike Moustakas and Alcides Escobar to start the inning. Escobars RBI single finished Peavy. "With the way Jake had settled in, he had good innings in the fourth and fifth, and wed gained momentum for ourselves, he probably had one inning left with his pitch count," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "Im not going to say it was surprising, but he left some balls up and they made him pay. "The put away pitch was a challenge for how they put the ball in play and go the other way. We just couldnt stop the momentum in the sixth." Eric Hosmers two-run single with two outs off Britton put the Royals on top 7-6. David Lough contributed a sacrifice fly, while Billy Butler doubled home Hosmer. Maxwells second single in the inning scored Butler with the final run. Mike Napoli, a career .368 hitter off Royals right-hander Ervin Santana, cleared the bases with a two-out third inning three-run double. That ended Santanas night. He gave up six runs on nine hits, including David Ortizs 22nd home run in the third, in 3 2/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season. "Its the best feeling," Santana said. "It doesnt matter how we got there, we won." Peavy lasted five innings, plus three batters, allowing six runs on 10 hits. "I just didnt make a whole lot of consistent pitches," Peavy said. "I had Maxwell 0-2 and threw him a changeup and he did a nice job (to start the sixth). "Youve got to win games when your offence scores six. I didnt feel good stuff-wise or control-wise. They battled and put the ball in play for being as free-swinging as they are. My stuff wasnt very sharp." Francisley Bueno (1-0), who was just promoted Thursday from Triple-A Omaha, picked up the victory with 2 1-3 scoreless innings. He has two big league wins, both against the Red Sox. Britton (1-1) was charged with the loss. The Royals 16-hit attack, included three hits each by Butler, Hosmer and Maxwell. Alex Gordon had two hits, including his 12th home run. Greg Holland worked the ninth for his 31st save in 33 chances. "It was a fantastic win," Yost said. "A night when Ervin didnt have his command, but our offence picked him up. Our bullpen again was dynamite." Notes: Red Sox C David Ross, who has been out since June 18 with a concussion, could start rehabbing with Tuesday with Double-A Portland if he gets the final approval. He has been cleared by Dr. Michael Collins, a concussion specialist in Pittsburgh, and the results were forwarded to Major League Baseball, which has the final word. If all goes well, Ross could be activated Aug. 19, the first day he is eligible. ... Royals All-Star C Salvador Perez is progressing in his on-the-field activities and manager Ned Yost is hopeful hell get the clearance to play Sunday, the first day he is eligible. ... After an appeal from the Royals, MLB reversed two Mets scorings calls from Sunday, giving Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain hits on "sun balls" that were first called errors.Fake Yeezy . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Fake Yeezy .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. https://www.fakeshoesonline.com/ . Anthony Calvillo, through 20 CFL seasons, was frequently invincible and largely stoic in the heat of competition. But underneath the professional exterior he was, and is, compellingly human. Replica Shoes Online . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. China Shoes For Sale . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball.CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- East Carolina coach Jeff Lebo came to John Paul Jones Arena thinking his team could be running into a buzz saw.He was right.Kyle Guy scored 13 points to lead a season-high five Virginia players in double figures, and the No. 14 Cavaliers used strong perimeter shooting to beat the Pirates 76-53 on Tuesday night.I knew we would get a spirited group after a loss at home, Lebo said. They dont lose too often at home.Virginia (8-1) had little trouble bouncing back from Saturdays loss to then-No. 25 West Virginia, its first at JPJ in two years. After trailing 16-15 with 9:26 remaining in the first half, the Cavaliers ended the period on a 27-4 run.The spurt included seven straight made 3-pointers, with three coming from Guy.A former Mr. Basketball in Indiana, Guy was held out for the final 11:27 during the loss to the Mountaineers. The freshman logged 21 minutes Tuesday, sparking Virginias early barrage from long range.I really think I can help this team, Guy said. Im not complaining about my minutes. Im fine with not playing at all. I just want my team to win.I know my minutes are going to fluctuate throughout the year. Some Ill be able to put up numbers and help this team and other games I can help this team by cheering.He did both on Tuesday.The Cavaliers finished 9 of 21 from beyond the arc, taking advantage of East Carolinas 2/3 zone.East Carolina played a lot of zone early, Virginia coach Tony Bennett said, and we shot them out of it.London Perrantes added 12 points and five assists for Virginia. Other double-digit scorers for the Cavaliers included Marial Shayok (12), Mamadi Diakite (12) and Jarred Reuter (10).East Carolina (7-3) was led by Jeremy Sheppards 17 points.BIG PICTUREEast Carolina: It was East Carolinas first game against a Power Five team this season. The Pirates entered John Paul Jones Arena searching for their first win over a ranked opponent since Dec. 30, 2002, wwhen they beat then-No.dddddddddddd13 Marquette and Dwyane Wade. Theyve never defeated a ranked team on the road. ... East Carolina, picked to finish seventh in the 11-team American Athletic Conference, is looking for its first winning season since 2012-13. It features three players averaging at least 12 points per game.Virginia: Coming off a competitive week that included games against West Virginia and Ohio State, the Cavaliers werent expected to be tested Tuesday. The game against the Pirates gave Bennett another opportunity to work different combinations as the team continues its quest for an identity in the post following the Nov. 18 dismissal of Austin Nichols. Virginia, after being outscored by a combined 26 points in the paint against the Mountaineers and Buckeyes, was plus-26 vs. East Carolina. A Dec. 21 road matchup with Ivan Rabb and California should reveal plenty about this team on the interior.Each game presents different matchups, Bennett said, but we tried to be a little more intentional getting to the paint off the dribble, dropping passes, throwing it inside.SHARING THE WEALTHVirginia assisted on all 15 of its first-half field goals, and 22 of 30 for the game. Four different Cavaliers finished with at least three assists.BIG MAN SHUT DOWNEast Carolina 7-foot-1 center Andre Washington, who entered averaging 9.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, was held scoreless with four rebounds.Most of the time, if were going against a big guy and he gets it, we try to trap the post, Bennett said. Thats a staple of our defense, to try to be disruptive. I thought for the most part we did a good job. Its hard to score out of that.UP NEXTThe Pirates are off until Dec. 15, when they host College of Charleston.The Cavaliers are off until Dec. 17, when they host Robert Morris. ' ' '