Boston Red Sox's Kevin Youkilis, right, reacts to striking out against the Kansas City Royals with one man on in the seventh inning of a baseball game in Boston, Thursday July 9, 2009. The Royals beat the Red Sox 8-6. At left is Royals catcher Miguel Olivo. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

The Boston Red Sox bullpen has really been great all season long. Tonight they brought the suck.

The Kansas City Royals scored 5 runs off the Red Sox bullpen on their way to an 8-6 win in front of 38, 189 on a spring-like night for baseball at Fenway Park.

The loss for the Red Sox (51-34) drops them into a tie for first place in the AL East with the Yankees, who swept the Twins. The Royals improve to 37-48.

Boston Red Sox starter Brad Penny delivers against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game in Boston, Thursday July 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric J. Shelton)Brad Penny gave the Red Sox a typical Penny outing. He went 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and a walk with a strikeout. He was decent early on but gave up all the runs in the 4th.

The Red Sox bullpen on the other hand stunk tonight with exception of Daniel Bard.

Manny Delcarmen allowed 2 hits in 2/3 of an inning and was charged with 2 runs. Justin Masterson allowed the runs charged to MDC to score and also decided it would be cool to give up 2 of his own in a 1/3 of an inning.

Ramon Ramirez wasn’t awful like the two before him as he struck out four in 1 2/3 innings but he did allow a run on 3 hits to his former club.  Bard, the lone bright spot, struck out 3 of the 4 batters he faced.

Luke Hochevar started for the Royals and didn’t have much luck early on as he gave up 4 runs  in the first 3 innings. He settled down though and picked up the win as he went 6 innings, allowing 5 runs on 9 hits and a walk with 5 strikeouts.

John Bale allowed a hit and had a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning. The Red Sox were able to touch up Juan Cruz for a run but Joakim Soria bailed him out by setting down all 4 batters he faced for the save.

Early on it looked the night would belong to David Ortiz who hit the 300th home run of his career (2-run variety) but it wasn’t meant to be. Dustin Pedroia had another 3-hit effort with a solo home run and Kevin Youkilis broke out of his slump with 2 hits and an RBI. Nick Green added a 2-hit effort while Jason Bay had a hit and a RBI.  Mark Kotsay drove in the other run with a sacrifice fly.

The Red Sox will now look to Jon Lester to bring the awesome tomorrow night at the Fens. He’ll be opposed by Brian Bannister.