Red Sox 6, Royals 3: Clay Buchholz struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings and Will Middlebrooks drove in a run and scored twice as visiting Boston took the opener of a four-game series from Kansas City.

David Ortiz recorded his 99th RBI while Mookie Betts had two hits and scored twice for the Red Sox, who snapped a four-game slide. Buchholz (8-8) was reached for three runs - two earned - on six hits and three walks in his third straight win, and Edward Mujica worked a scoreless ninth for his fifth save.

Liam Hendricks (1-2) lasted only 2 1/3 innings for the Royals while yielding three runs - two earned - on four hits and a pair of walks. Lorenzo Cain drove in a run and scored on two hits as Kansas City’s lead over the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central slipped to a half-game.

Middlebrooks scored on an error in the second inning but the Royals jumped on top with two in the bottom of the frame as Alcides Escobar pushed Cain across before scoring when first baseman Mike Napoli was wide on a throw across the diamond to third. Boston got those two runs back in the third as Hendricks lost the strike zone.

The Red Sox loaded the bases on a single, a walk and a hit-by-pitch before Hendricks walked Napoli to force in a run and surrendered Middlebrooks’ go-ahead single. Ortiz plated Betts with a single to center in the fourth to make it a 4-2 gap and Jemile Weeks provided some breathing room with a two-run double to right off Aaron Crow in the eighth to make it 6-3.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia underwent surgery on his left wrist earlier in the day and will miss the rest of the season. … Royals LHP Danny Duffy, who left his last start after throwing one pitch, had no pain during treatment and could be in line to make a start early next week. … Boston INF/OF Brock Holt, who has been out this week battling an illness, was sent to a concussion specialist in Pittsburgh because of lingering feelings of dizziness and lightheadedness.