Merloni's Dinger Wins it For BoSox

May 16, 1998 / 2:25 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Lou Merloni has been in the major leagues less than a week and he already has the highlight of his career etched in his memory.

"The best moment was rounding first base, seeing that ball go in the net," the 27-year-old rookie said Friday night after homering in his first Fenway Park at-bat to lead the Red Sox to a 5-2 victory over Kansas City. "It's something I'll never, ever forget."

Merloni, who grew up a half-hour from Boston in Framingham, also doubled and made a nice play at third base, and Tim Wakefield (5-1) won his fifth consecutive start to help Boston snap a four-game losing streak.

Merloni, who was called up from Triple-A on Sunday because of an injury to Nomar Garciaparra, keyed a five-run second inning with his first career homer and only his second career hit.

"It had to be a big thrill for him. But they were certainly big runs for us," Boston manager Jimy Williams said. "You drive in three runs, you hit a homer in your first at-bat at Fenway Park with the Red Sox. I can't put myself in his shoes, but I'd like to dream a bit."

Wakefield beat the Royals for the second time in a week to snap the Red Sox' longest losing streak of the season. He allowed seven hits and two earned runs over seven innings.

"The ball is moving every which way," said shortstop Shane Halter, whose Royals were facing a knuckleballer for the second consecutive night and the third time in five games. "It's almost like the ball's got eyes in the back of it, and it sees the bat coming and it ducks."

Kansas City beat Tampa Bay and Dennis Springer 10-2 on Thursday night and also faced Wakefield on Sunday, when he pitched 6 2-3 innings of no-hit ball and won 3-1.

Dennis Eckersley pitched the ninth for his first save of the year, the 390th of his career.

Jose Rosado (0-3), a reliever making his first start of the year, allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk in six innings. He struck out two and allowed two home runs.

After Jim Leyritz homered to lead off the second, Troy O'Leary and Jason Varitek singled and Mike Benjamin doubled to make it 2-0. Merloni homered to thrill the 400-500 people in the crowd who came out to see him make his Fenway debut, including his parents, whom he brought to town in a limousine as a present for their wedding anniversary.

"I saw that ball go over the wall and I was getting tingles," Merloni said. "I had trouble running around the bases. My knees were shaking."

In addition to his homer, he also had a walk and a double off the Green Monster in the sixth. While playing third base in place of injured John Valentin, Merloni also made a nice play on a grounder down the line to get Jose Offerman in the fourth inning.

Notes: Before the game, the Red Sox pu pitcher Brian Rose on the disabled list and recalled Steve Avery from Pawtucket of the International League. ... Dean Palmer was a late scratch from the Royals lineup with back spasms. "Bad back, bad neck. Stiffness and soreness," manager Tony Muser said, adding that Palmer is day-to-day. ... Kansas City had scored 14 runs on 21 hits in the two previous games. ... Royals starters did not allow an earned run in 18 1-3 innings before Boston's five-run second.