Boston, MA -- (Sports Network) - Kevin Youkilis finished 3-for-4 with a pair of homers, four RBI and scored four times as Boston nearly blew a nine-run lead but downed Kansas City, 15-9, in the third of four from Fenway Park.

David Ortiz hit a two-run homer and Nick Green also knocked in a pair of runs for the Red Sox, who have won four of five including two of three in this series.

John Smoltz (1-2) earned his first win in a Boston uniform, going five innings while scattering four hits and one run with seven strikeouts.

Billy Butler had three hits and drove in three runs for the Royals, who lost for the fourth time in five games. Jose Guillen and Mike Jacobs each homered and knocked in two runs in defeat.

Gil Meche (4-9) took the loss, charged with six hits and eight runs -- six earned -- over 3 2/3 innings before leaving the contest. He was later diagnosed with back spasms in his lower left side.

Ryan Freel finally put the Royals on the board with a fifth-inning RBI double, and the Royals tacked on five more in the sixth. Jacobs launched a two-run homer and Tony Pena singled to plate another run. Later, with the bases loaded, Freel hit into a fielder's choice as J.D. Drew took his hit to right on one hop and fired home in time to retire Miguel Olivo. However, Butler followed with a two-run single which got KC back within 9-6.

Guillen led off the seventh against Hideki Okajima with a homer over the Green Monster, then Jacobs and Alberto Callaspo both singled. Daniel Bard was summoned and retired the next three batters in order with two strikeouts and a groundout.

The Sox regained their composure in the home half, putting up three runs courtesy of a bases-loaded error on Varitek's fielder's choice and Green's two-run single.

Unbowed, the Royals made it 12-9 in the eighth on Butler's double and a sacrifice fly from Guillen.

In the home half Youkilis added a second homer to push the Sox lead back to four, and Aaron Bates picked up his first major-league hit -- an RBI single -- and Boston led 14-9. A walk to Green followed and Drew was plunked to bring in the home team's 15th and final run.

"We had to battle it out and score a bunch of runs. It's just one of those nights where we had to just keep battling it out, back and forth where they came closer. It was good that we got some distance at the end," said Youkilis.

Takashi Saito turned in a scoreless ninth to preserve the win.

"Obviously, we didn't get out of the gates good, sloppy defense in the early innings and unaware. It was good to see us battle back and good to see us have the AB's we had," Royals manager Trey Hillman said.

Boston notched three runs in the first, as Dustin Pedroia tripled then was driven home by a Youkilis single. Ortiz walked then Jason Bay reached on an error and Youkilis scored when Pena botched the start of a double play. Jacoby Ellsbury followed with a sac fly to plate Ortiz.

The lead was stretched to 6-0 in the second on Pedroia's RBI double and a two- run homer from Youkilis, and Jason Varitek wrapped one around the Pesky Pole in right in the third.

Ortiz hit a two-run homer into the seats beyond the bullpen in right against Ron Mahay in the fourth for a nine-run lead.

Game Notes:

Boston has won eight of the last 10 meetings with Kansas City dating back to the start of last season...Ortiz picked up his 1,000th hit as a member of the Red Sox...The Royals outhit the Sox, 13-12...Hillman was ejected following the seventh inning by home plate umpire Todd Tichenor.