Martinez leads Red Sox past slumping Royals 7-6

BOSTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez drove in four runs, including two on a go-ahead double in the sixth inning, and the Boston Red Sox outlasted the slumping Kansas City Royals 7-6 on Tuesday on a sweltering night at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox, who had four homers in each of their previous two games, won their fifth straight despite not going deep Tuesday. Boston pitchers allowed three homers by the Royals for the second straight game, but Kansas City’s skid continued with its seventh loss in a row.

Whit Merrifield led off the game with a homer for Kansas City off Nick Pivetta. Michael A. Taylor and Ryan O’Hearn each hit two-run shots for the Royals, who fell to 1-7 on a 10-game road trip that…