David Ortiz had four hits and five RBIs, and Dustin Pedroia had four of Boston’s 16 hits Tuesday night to lead the Red Sox to a 13-9 victory over the Kansas City Royals, their 18th win in 22 games.

In his first three at-bats, the Red Sox second baseman stroked a triple, double and single. He followed them up with another single and a walk

RED SOX NOTEBOOK: Aceves Tuesday relieved an ineffective Andrew Miller in the fourth inning, going 31/3 innings, allowing three hits, no runs, striking out three and walking nobody to help lead the Sox to a 13-9 win and improve his record to 6-1 this season.

The free agency free-for-all has begun, mostly with obscure names from the college ranks. It will get wilder.

Robert Kraft drove up to his stadium and walked through the door with a bulging briefcase under his left arm. It was the same door his players used earlier Tuesday after being locked out for 4 1-2 months.

If someone comes up with a “good guy” award for entertainers, Murray Cook had better be at least a finalist. The red-clad original member of The Wiggles – the fabulously popular kids song and dance group from Australia – Murray somehow made us feel like we were doing him a favor by letting him appear on “Ten from the Line", even though we're convinced he had never heard of the show until three weeks ago.

RED SOX NOTEBOOK: Buchholz threw 30 pitches in the bullpen and, for perhaps the first time in more than a month, came away feeling completely optimistic.

In the end, the Royals started the 14th inning with back-to-back hits by Eric Hosmer and Jeff Francoeur, each of whom scored off Randy Williams, giving them a 3-1 win on a night that started with a 2:21 rain delay, ending at 2 a.m. and spoiling the return of Sox starter Jon Lester.

While other teams scramble to make it to their college-based training camps this week, the New England Patriots will stay at home ... and get started quickly.

Maybe Brandon Gomes just needs to pitch against the very best.