It was a rough Royals debut for Bailey Falter, as the recent arrival from Pittsburgh was torched for five runs in the first inning, en route to Kansas City’s 8-5 loss Monday, Aug. 4 to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Falter gave up three singles and a walk before recording his first out, including a two-RBI hit to Rob Refsnyder. Jerran Duran added a three-run home run in the frame to make the score 5-0. The Red Sox would added a run in the third, where the Royals also allowed two stolen bases in the inning. The Royals would get on the board in the fourth, when a fielding error allowed Salvador Perez to reach, then score on a sacrifice fly from Adam Frazier.

Boston added RBI singles in the fourth and seventh, but needed to hold on as the Royals plated four in the eighth. Back-to-back home runs from Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia started the frame, with Garcia’s fly ball clearing the fabled Green Monster. Mike Yastrzemski’s double was followed by an RBI single by Frazier, who then scored on a double by Nick Loftin. Loftin would attempt to score on a line drive from Bobby Witt Jr, but the Royals’ attempt to challenge that Loftin was illegally blocked at the plate was unsuccessful. Aroldis Chapman arrived in the ninth inning to close out the game, securing his 21st save of the year.

Falter lasted four innings in the loss, allowing seven runs on eight hits while strking out two and walking a pair. Brayan Bello picked up the win for Boston, allowing one run on six hits and a walk in six innings, recording five punchouts.

The Royals drop to 56-57 on the year, four games behind Seattle and New York for the third wild card spot and nine-and-a-half games behind Detroit for the AL Central lead. The series continues at Boston on Tuesday evening, with Ryan Bergert making his Royals debut against Boston’s Garrett Crochet, who is looking for his 13th win of the year. Pregame coverage on KMMO-FM 102.9 begins at 5:30 p.m., with first pitch at 6:10 p.m.