Boston Red Sox’s Sandy Leon scores behind Kansas City Royals’ Drew Butera on a ground-out by Eduardo Nunez during the 10th inning of a baseball game in Boston, Saturday, July 29, 2017. The Red Sox won 9-8. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

BOSTON (AP) — Sandy Leon slid into home plate and avoided catcher Drew Butera’s tag on Eduardo Nunez’s ground out in the 10th inning Saturday night, lifting the Boston Red Sox past Kansas City 9-8 to end the Royals’ nine-game winning streak.

Nunez also hit two solo homers over the Green Monster for the Red Sox. He’s 5 for 9 in two games since being acquired from San Francisco earlier in the week.

Lorenzo Cain hooked a three-run homer around the right-field pole and Whit Merrifield had a career-best four hits — all singles — for the Royals, who were looking to match their longest win streak since June 2014.

The Red Sox remained a half game behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees.

Matt Barnes (6-2) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.

Boston tied it on Betts’ sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Boston Red Sox’s Eduardo Nunez, center, celebrates his solo home run with Hanley Ramirez (13) during the fifth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Boston, Saturday, July 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Red Sox’s Christian Vazquez reacts to he lead-off single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Boston, Saturday, July 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) Copy the Story Link