The last time Luke Hochevar pitched at Fenway, the guy going for the Sox (Jon Lester) tossed a no-hitter. The Red Sox can only hope they get a fraction of that magic when Brad Penny heads to the hill for the first of four with Kansas City.

The Sox will look to take advantage of a struggling Royals team before breaking for All Star festivities, and it shouldn’t be hard to exploit a team that is only sending starter Zack Greinke to St. Louis next week.

The Royals are currently fourth in the AL Central, 10 games behind the division-leading Tigers. The team is collectively hitting .252, better than only the Athletics for second-worst in the AL. Additionally, the Royals have only two players who have reached double digits in homers, with catcher Miguel Olivo (13) and Mike Jacobs (11) leading the team.

One thing that has hurt the Royals all season has been fielding. Out of the entire American League, only the Mariners have commited more errors (65) than the Royals (60).

ROYALS VS. BRAD PENNY

Penny has been rolling along for the Red Sox recently, allowing three earned runs or less in his last five starts (1-1). One thing that remains a concern, however, is that he has still yet to pitch seven innings in a game this season. He had three consecutive starts in which he pitched into the seventh from May 8-20, but for a guy who pitched at least seven innings in nine starts before the first of July in 2007, he has hardly been an innings-eater in Boston.

Royals hitters are generally unfamiliar with Penny, with the exception of Ryan Freel. Here’s a look at the numbers:

Ryan Freel (26 career plate appearances vs. Penny): .421 average / .560 OBP/ .632 slugging
Bruce Chen (4): 0-for-4, strikeout
David DeJesus (4): 1-for-4
Willie Bloomquist (3): 1-for-3
John Buck (3): 0-for-3, 2 strikeouts
Alberto Callaspo (3): 0-for-2, walk
Mike Jacobs (3): 0-for-3, 3 strikeouts
Miguel Olivo (3): 1-for-3, 2 strikeouts
Mark Teahan (3): 0-for-3, strikeout
Robinson Tejeda (2): 0-for-2, strikeout
Jamey Wright (2): 0-for-1
Jose Guillen (1): 1-for-1

RED SOX VS. LUKE HOCHEVAR

Hochevar has made more waves at the negotiating table with agent Scott Boras than he has in his big league career. That’s not good. After being drafted 40th overall by the Dodgers back in 2005, Hochever held out, fired Boras, agreed to a deal, fired his new agent, re-hired Boras, and backed out of the deal with Los Angeles. Confusing? It shouldn’t be if you’re familiar with Boras’ work.

After not signing with the Dodgers, Hochevar was selected by the Royals with the top choice in the ‘06 draft and has since been average at best. In parts of three seasons the right-hander has gone 10-16 with a 5.18 ERA. In nine starts this season Hochevar is 4-3 with a 5.08 ERA and 21 strikeouts.

Hochevar gave up seven runs (four earned) in six innings against Boston last May 19. Based largely on that game, here’s how Red Sox hitters have done against him:

Jacoby Ellsbury (7 ): 3-for-6, triple, walk
J.D. Drew (6): 2-for-4, walk, HBP
David Ortiz (6): 1-for-4, RBI, 2 walks
Kevin Youkilis (4): 1-for-3, double, RBI, HBP
Jason Bay (3): 1-for-3
Julio Lugo (3): 0-for-3, strikeout
Dustin Pedroia (3): 0-for-2, walk
Jason Varitek (3): 2-for-3, homer, 2 RBI, strikeout

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