KANSAS CITY— Rookie left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez bounced back from a horrific start against Toronto and gave up just one run over 6 1/3 innings to lead Boston to a 7-3 win over the Royals on Friday night at sold-out (38,190) Kauffman Stadium.

Rodriguez gave up nine earned runs in his last start, but he had little trouble with the Royals, whose four-game winning streak ended. Rodriguez gave up six hits, walked one and struck out five.

“Yeah, a bounce-back start for him, no doubt,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “Three quality pitches tonight for strikes, but most importantly, his fastball location was outstanding for the time he was on the mound. We put up the five runs, and he pitches as if it’s a nothing-nothing game.”

Right-hander Yohan Pino got an emergency start for the Royals, filling in for the injured Yordano Ventura. Pino struggled, giving up 11 hits and six runs over 5 1/3 innings. He didn’t strike out a batter.

Royals manager Ned Yost would not commit to Pino making another start.

“We’ll wait to make that decision,” Yost said.

As for Pino’s outing, Yost said, “He had a rough second inning, but he did a good job to get us through five. … He settled down after that second inning and allowed us to get through the game with just [Brandon] Finnegan and [Luke Hochevar]. We didn’t have to use our big guys.”

Eric Hosmer cracked his eighth homer for the Royals.

“I thought I put a good swing on that one,” Hosmer said. “It felt good.”

As for the loss, Hosmer said, “That’s a good team over there that has just been skidding. You know sooner or later they’re going to snap out of it.”