Royals setting records with television ratings

DETROIT -- The Royals' ratings continue to set highs this year for Fox Sports Kansas City.

The Royals-Red Sox series last Saturday and Sunday following the Boston Marathon bombings and manhunt was the highest-rated series in the network's history. It averaged a 7.0 household rating in the Kansas City area, according to Nielsen Media Research. That passed the 6.9 for the first home series this year against Minnesota.

Royals telecasts averaged 5.7 through 16 games, up 36 percent over last year. The afternoon opener of Sunday's doubleheader in Boston was the second-highest rated game ever on the network, averaging 7.4 and peaking at 9.9 (or 92,000 households) in the ninth inning.

The pre- and post-game shows also hit all-time highs on Sunday, with a 5.9 after the first game and a 3.4 before the second game.