Impressive left-handers will be on display as the Boston Red Sox and visiting Kansas City Royals play a decisive contest of their three-game weekend series on Sunday afternoon.

The Red Sox (81-68) evened the set and snapped a three-game losing skid with a 5-1 win on Saturday. They will hope for another dominant start from 23-year-old Payton Tolle (9-6, 3.15 ERA) as he faces Kansas City's Noah Cameron (9-8, 3.93) on Sunday afternoon.

With extended heavy rain forecast through the early afternoon, first pitch was moved from 1:35 p.m. to 3:05 p.m.

After finishing hitless with runners in scoring position in the series-opening, 3-2 loss on Friday, the Red Sox went 4-for-8 in those situations and scored the four go-ahead runs across their final three at-bats on Saturday. The offense supported a second straight seven-inning outing by Ranger Suarez.

Friday's contest served as Boston's fifth loss in a span of six home games.

"It feels amazing (playing at Fenway Park)," Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu said. "Every time we're winning, the crowd's going crazy."

Abreu's two-run double in the sixth inning decided Saturday's game.

"It feels like these few days we've been waiting for a two-out hit," Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. "We got that one swing, and all of a sudden, everyone takes a breath."

Tolle, who has yet to face Kansas City in his young career, struck out 12 across six innings of one-run, four-hit ball in last Sunday's series-sweeping win over the Baltimore Orioles.

"He's having fun out there," Tracy said. "Some guys are very intense, lock in when they start, and he has to have fun. That's what makes him go. He's enjoying himself out there."

How could he not be? Tolle has struck out double-digit batters twice in his last six starts and three times this season.

The Royals (66-83) have lost five of their last eight games, but Kansas City native catcher Carter Jensen tied the franchise's single-season rookie record with his 24th home run on Saturday. He has now posted 12 consecutive hits for extra bases, which is the longest streak by any rookie since 1961.

"That's a phenomenal record," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. "We know that he's been on a tear here offensively as of late. So good for him. Not only that, but it tied the game."

Cameron has pitched shutout ball in three of his last five outings, a stretch that includes a complete game against the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 16.

Most recently, the 27-year-old allowed just three hits and struck out seven Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday. That game was scoreless through nine innings before Arizona won 5-4 in 10.

"When you pitch like that, you deserve a win," Royals outfielder John Rave said of Cameron's last outing.

Cameron has not been alone lately.

Entering the series in Boston, Kansas City's three most recent losses had come by a combined four runs, including consecutive extra-inning setbacks against Arizona.

The Royals have been held to one or fewer runs in 26 different games this season. On the flip side, no team has held their opponent within that scoring range in more contests than the Red Sox (38).

Quatraro's club had a positive development on the injury front on Saturday, as Jac Caglianone (elbow) pinch hit for his first game action in a week.

"He felt better (on Saturday)," Quatraro said of the AL Player of the Month in August. "We'll have to make a decision on how we get him (in the lineup). It's certainly a good problem to have."

--Field Level Media

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