Rookie Eric Hosmer singled and tripled in the eight-run sixth inning as the host Kansas City Royals prevented Tim Wakefield from reaching the 200-win plateau, routing the Boston Red Sox 9-4 Saturday night.

The Red Sox remained one-half game behind New York in the American League East standings. The Yankees dropped a 9-4 decision to the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.

Wakefield kept the Royals off balance for the first five innings, but the 45-year-old knuckleballer wasn't fooling anyone in the sixth. He allowed three straight one-out hits - including back-to-back RBI doubles to Jeff Francoeur and Mike Moustakas - before departing with a 4-3 lead.

Boston reliever Matt Albers (4-4) came on and promptly allowed the game-tying single to Chris Getz, followed by the go-ahead double by Alex Gordon. With six runs already in, Hosmer capped the game-changing inning with a two-run triple to deep center field off Franklin Morales.

Wakefield was charged with four runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings as he failed in his bid to become the 111th major-leaguer to record 200 wins. He has been stuck on 199 victories since July 24.

Felipe Paulino (2-5) was the beneficiary of the Royals' sixth-inning explosion, earning his first victory since July 5. The veteran right-hander surrendered four runs on eight hits over six frames for just his third win in the last two seasons - a span of 28 starts.

Rookie Ryan Lavarnway had two hits and an RBI for the Red Sox, who were without center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (back).