Kansas City @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 20, 2013 ) Kansas City 3, Boston 4

The Boston Red Sox rode an emotional wave following Saturday's stirring pregame ceremony to their seventh consecutive victory in the team's first home game since the Boston Marathon bombings rocked the city Monday. With the healing process underway in Boston, the Red Sox can get back to focusing on the business of baseball as they close out the three-game series against the Kansas City Royals with a day-night doubleheader Sunday.

Boston will be looking to match its longest win streak since reeling off nine straight in June 2011. Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain referred to Saturday's atmosphere as "electric." He could just as easily have been describing his hitting during a torrid stretch. Cain went 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles and scored all three of his team's runs Saturday. It was the fourth consecutive multi-hit game for Cain, who is 11-for-16 in that span to boost his batting average to .392.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Kansas City, New England Sports Network (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Ervin Santana (1-1, 2.45 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Ryan Dempster (0-1, 2.65)

Santana has been outstanding in his last two outings following a shaky season debut. He went eight innings and allowed one earned run in each of the last two starts. More importantly, he's kept the ball in the park, yielding only a solo homer in the last 16 innings after surrendering three blasts in his first start and 39 a year ago. Santana has had mixed success in his career versus Boston, going 3-3 with a 4.13 ERA but holding the Red Sox to a collective .228 batting average in 11 starts.

Dempster is seeking his first win as he prepares to make his fourth start. He did not factor in the decision despite a superb performance last time out against Tampa Bay, allowing one run on two hits while striking out 10 in seven innings. Dempster has fanned 25 while walking eight and allowing only 10 hits over 17 innings. Jeff Francoeur is 6-for-17 with a homer, three doubles and four RBIs against Dempster, who is 2-0 in three career starts against Kansas City.

WALK-OFFS

1. Boston is the third AL team (1978 Athletics, 1981 Athletics) that has allowed three runs or fewer by its starters in the season's first 16 games.

2. The Red Sox and Royals are first and third in the AL in runs allowed at 45 and 51, respectively.

3. Kansas City was swept in both its doubleheaders in 2012.

PREDICTION: Royals 4, Red Sox 3