By Brad Greer

Hunter Ivy’s two-run double keyed a five-run sixth inning to help break open a tie game as the first place Royals (7-2) downed the A’s 11-6 Thursday night in American Legion baseball action.

The A’s (5-4), knotted the game at six in the bottom of the fifth inning by scoring five runs of their own. Ty Fergurson got the rally started with a one-out single followed by four straight walks by Royals reliever Hunter Hynum. After Jessie Pearson’s fielders’ choice drove in a run, Deon Mix and Scotty Daughtery singled off Taylor Karr to drive in a pair of runs to tie the game.

Tyler Beard led off the sixth inning for the Royals with a single followed by Billy Lightning and Tyler Beard drawing base on balls to load the bases. Lane Massey’s RBI groundout and Ivy’s double off Will Daughtery gave the Royals a 9-6 lead. Tevis Flowers and Karr extended the rally with a RBI singles to drive in the final two runs.

Karr  picked up the win in relief by going 1.2 innings while striking out three and surrendering two runs along the way. Ethan Waldrip started the game and went four innings, giving up one run while fanning seven. Daughtery gave up six runs on four hits over two innings to take the loss. Mix pitched the first three innings for the A’s followed by one inning of work by Pearson.

Ivy also had a single for the Royals as they collected nine hits in the game. Karr added two singles while J.J. Kilpatrick and Hynum doubled. Corinzo Towns also added a single in the winning cause.

In the nightcap, Erik Weaver and Luke Latham combined on a no-hitter for the Yankees, but it was all in vain as Erick Booker scored on a wild pitch with two outs in top of the sixth to give the Red Sox a 2-1 victory. Blake Snyder and Chance Whitten were equally impressive for the Sox as the duo spun a one-hitter on the night.

Trailing 1-0 in the sixth, Whitten drew a bases loaded walk from Latham to bring home Colton Cook to tie the game. After fanning Austin Smith for the second out, Latham uncorked a wild pitch to plate Booker who had earlier walked.

The Yankees had one last chance in the bottom half of the inning but Scott Taylor grounded out to end the game. Latham registered the only hit of the game with a RBI single that drove in Blake Darby in the first inning.

Whitten pitched the final three innings to pick up the win in relief of Snyder. Latham took the loss as he pitched the final inning of relief.

With the victory, the Red Sox and A’s remained tied in second place with 5-4 records while the Yankees fell to 1-8 on the season.