them games ahead of Boston, as the Red Sox fell back to .500 (29–29) for the season. In the final game of the series, Boston led the entire way, with New York drawing no closer than 3–2 at the end of the fourth inning, en route to an 8–5 Red Sox win. Bogaerts and J. D. Martinez both homered. Before the game, manager Alex Cora announced that Mookie Betts would be the team's leadoff hitter for the rest of the season, as he had been during 2018. Red Sox lost the series 1–2 (12–14 runs) June 4–June 6, at Kansas City Royals After Kansas City had an early 2–0 lead in the opening game of the series, Boston went ahead by a run in the sixth. Eduardo Núñez then hit a pinch hit three-run homer in the eighth inning, as Boston pulled away for an 8–3 win. The middle game of the series was a complete game shutout by Chris Sale, who also pitched his second immaculate inning of the season. Rafael Devers hit his ninth home run of the season as Boston won, 8–0. Boston completed the sweep with a 7–5 win on Thursday afternoon, using seven pitchers with Colten Brewer getting the win. Mookie Betts hit his 10th home run of the season. Red Sox won the series 3–0 (23–8 runs) June 7–June 9, vs. Tampa Bay Rays The Rays defeated the Red Sox, 5–1, in the opening game of the series, as Tampa Bay starter Yonny Chirinos did not allow a baserunner until the sixth inning. Xander Bogaerts had two of Boston's four hits, and the team's only RBI. In the first game of a Saturday doubleheader, Tampa Bay had a 4–1 lead at the end of the second inning, and went on to win, 9–2. Marco Hernández played in his first MLB game since the 2017 season, and Jackie Bradley Jr. hit his fifth home run of the season. The second game of the doubleheader was a 5–1 Red Sox win, as David Price held the Rays to one run in six innings, with 10 strikeouts. The final game of the series was a 6–1 Rays win on Sunday, with Hernández driving in Boston's only run. Red Sox lost the series 1–3 (9–21 runs) June 10–June 13, vs. Texas Rangers Chris Sale started the series' opener, holding Texas to one run (unearned) on three hits in