Gomes swings bats to honor Boston victims

BOSTON -- With the Boston Marathon bombing still on his mind, Jonny Gomes was using a pair of specially designed bats on Sunday.

Along the barrel of the wood was inscribed, "Boston Strong," with the names of the four mortally wounded victims -- Martin Richard, Lu Lingzi, Krystle Campbell and Sean Collier -- added beneath.

"My agent contacted me and said he could make that happen if I'd be willing to swing them," Gomes said. "If not swing them, just trying to get the word out there, just do what I can. I've got four of them, took two of them into the game -- first at-bat, second at-bat.

"Two more coming and I'll have the whole team sign them, and then I'll auction them off and hopefully raise some funds for where it's needed."

Gomes went 0-for-4 in a 4-2 loss to the Royals on Sunday afternoon, but was not in the lineup for the nightcap.