Red Sox complete best April

BOSTON — Xander Bogaerts hit a grand slam over the Green Monster and the Boston Red Sox finished April with their most wins ever by beating the Kansas City Royals 10-6 on Monday night.

Mitch Moreland hit a solo homer and had three hits along with Bogaerts for the Red Sox, who posted their 19th victory in April. They had reached 18 three times, the last coming in their World Series-winning 2013 season.

Whit Merrifield had three hits and two RBIs for the Royals, who were coming off their first consecutive wins this season.

Hector Velazquez (4-0), the first of three relievers, worked two scoreless innings of relief for the victory.

Trailing 3-0, Boston scored a run in the second on Moreland’s homer and five off Jason Hammel (0-3) in a third inning highlighted by Bogaerts’ slam that completely left Fenway Park. Moreland drew a bases-loaded walk for the other run.

It was Boston’s sixth slam of the season, tying the then-Montreal Expos from 1996 for most ever in the majors by May 1.

Boston fell in the 3-0 hole in the first when starter Eduardo Rodriguez gave up three runs on three walks, two singles and a hit batsman.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: SS Alcides Escobar was back in the lineup after leaving Sunday’s game with a bruised left hand from being hit by a pitch . ... DH Mike Moustakas was hit by a pitch and came out with a bruised left forearm.

Red Sox: Manager Alex Cora decided to give OF Mookie Betts a second straight day off because of a tight right hamstring that forced him out Saturday. “I feel like not starting today is going to benefit him, but if we need it late in the game, we’ll use him,” Cora said.

GONE EARLY

Both starting pitchers were out by the fifth inning.

Rodriguez gave up five runs, walked three, hit two batters and struck out six in four.

Hammel was tagged for eight runs on eight hits in 42⁄3 innings.