The Sox can still beat up on shitty teams with the best of 'em

So far through the first six games of the 2010 season, the Boston Red Sox are exactly who everyone thought they would be.

After the thrill of a comeback victory on Opening Night, the Yankees won the next two games. Similarly, after a surprising loss to the perpetually hapless Royals on Friday night, they recovered to win on Saturday and yesterday in the series finale 8-6 at Kauffman Stadium.

Clay Buchholz (1-0) made his first start of the season and boy was it not impressive even though he earned the win. He went five innings, giving three runs (two earned) on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout. Dice-K is currently wasting away in Pawtucket but he's expected back in a few weeks so Buchholz needs to assert himself.

The good news for the Sox (3-3) was that Royals (2-4) starter Gil Meche (0-1) was much worse. He was tagged for seven earned runs in 3.1 innings.

Dustin Pedroia led Boston with four hits including a solo homer, his third of the season. Adrian Beltre continues to hit, notching three hits and three RBIs. Jacoby Ellsbury and Victor Martinez each added two runs and two hits.

Ellsbury was kneed in the ribs in the ninth by Beltre while they both tried to make a catch. He didn't break any ribs but he's out of the lineup today.

Manny Delcarmen threw two scoreless innings which was the good news for the Sox bullpen. The bad news was that Ramon Ramirez can't get anybody out as he gave up a three-run bomb to Jose Guillen (4 RBIs) which made it 8-6 in the eighth and way closer than it had to be.

Daniel Bard settled things down with a 1-2-3 eighth after Ramirez got yanked and Jonathan Papelbon had a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the season.

Boston goes to Minnesota for three, starting with Target Field's opener this afternoon.