Eduardo Núñez belted a pinch-hit, three-run homer to break open a close game in the eighth inning, and the Red Sox went on to beat the Royals 8-3.

J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts and Brock Holt also drove in runs for the Red Sox. Scott Barlow took the loss in relief for Kansas City after blowing the lead in the sixth inning.

The Royals placed slugging third baseman Hunter Dozier on the injured list with an oblique strain and recalled infielder Kelvin Gutierrez from Triple-A Omaha.