BOSTON (AP) The music was blaring in the clubhouse and Boston utility player Brock Holt was holding a microphone, acting like a DJ.
The defending World Series champion Red Sox were clearly ready to relax and have fun again.
Rick Porcello pitched six innings of one-run ball, Sam Travis hit a two-run homer and the Red Sox halted their eight-game losing streak with a 7-5 victory over the struggling Kansas City Royals on Monday night.
Thats kind of where we need to be in general, Porcello said. Some pressure when you start losing, especially with the talented team we have. Thats kind of how we need to be every day, kind of relaxed and focus on the task in hand.
Rafael Devers added a solo shot for the Red Sox. Travis gave Boston a homer in a club-record 18 straight games in Fenway Park. The old mark was set in 1969.
Bubba Starling, Meibrys Viloria and Cheslor Cuthbert each went deep for Kansas City, with Vilorias his first homer in the majors and Starlings a three-run shot.
It was the seventh straight loss for the Royals, who had a 10-game skid in the seasons first two weeks.
Porcello (10-8), who smashed a pair of TV monitors in the Fenway dugout in frustration in his last start, gave up four hits, walked two and struck out five.
The only thing he broke this time was the defending World Series champions losing streak. It was their first win since beating the rival Yankees at home on July 27 and moved them 5 ½ games behind Tampa Bay for the ALs second wild-card spot.
Obviously we had a rough week, but we still believe in ourselves, Devers said through a translator.
The longest skid for a defending champ is 11 games, done by both the 1998 then-Florida Marlins (twice) and the 1986 Royals.
Bostons starters had a 10.95 ERA over the eight-game skid.
Brandon Workman got the final three outs for his sixth save.
Making his fourth start since being acquired from the Chicago Cubs in July, Mike Montgomery (1-5) gave up four runs two earned over five innings and fell to 0-3 since joining the Royals.
I thought he threw the ball fine. He did a nice job, Royals manager Ned Yost said. He gave us a chance to win the game.
In their first time through the order against Montgomery, the Red Sox struck out five times. Boston jumped ahead with three runs the second time.
