Jacobs helps rally Royals past Red Sox 12-9

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mike Jacobs hit a three-run homer and Alberto Callaspo’s two-run double keyed Kansas City’s biggest inning in almost a year, rallying the Royals past the Boston Red Sox 12-9 on Monday night.

After falling behind 6-0 in the third and 8-2 in the fifth, the Royals seized an 11-9 lead with six runs in the sixth, the most they’ve scored in one inning since Sept. 24, 2008.

Billy Butler had an RBI double off Manny Delcarmen and then Callaspo hit a two-run double. Yuniesky Betancourt finished it off with a two-run single off Daniel Bard (2-2).

Butler had another RBI double in the seventh, giving him 49 doubles this season.

It was the 11th win in 14 games for the Royals, who had lost nine of 11 to the Red Sox.

Jason Bay had a three-run homer off Lenny DiNardo in Boston’s six-run third inning, his career-high 36th. Jacoby Ellsbury and Victor Martinez also drove in two runs for the AL wild-card leaders.

Yasuhiko Yabuta (2-1) got the win, allowing one run in one inning. Joakim Soria pitched the ninth for his 27th save in 30 chances.

The defensive play of the night belonged to Royals right fielder Willie Bloomquist, who smashed into a bullpen post catching a drive by Kevin Youkilis. Bloomquist stayed on his feet and went right back to his position.

Alex Gordon also had two RBIs for the Royals, whose surge has pulled them out of last place in the AL Central.

DiNardo gave up 10 hits and eight runs in five innings. After Bay’s three-run shot, Ellsbury had a two-run single and Dustin Pedroia an RBI single in his second at-bat of the inning.

Martinez, stretching his hitting streak to a career-best 20 games, had a two-run single in the fifth.

Tim Wakefield, struggling to throw his knuckleball for strikes after a steady rain got worse, labored through five innings. He was charged with five runs on five hits and seven walks.

The Royals had a run before they had a hit when the rain began to fall in the third and Wakefield’s control deserted him. With one out, he walked the bases full and with two outs a passed ball by Martinez allowed Josh Anderson to score.

After Wakefield walked Bloomquist and Butler in the fifth, Jacobs’ three-run homer made it 8-5.

NOTES: Bay also had a homer and three RBIs the day before on his birthday. His 113 RBIs are also a career high. … DiNardo threw the Royals’ 85th wild pitch in the fifth, tying the team record. Then Yabuta’s wild pitch in the sixth, allowing Bay to score Boston’s ninth run, broke it. … Butler is five doubles shy of Hal McRae’s team record.