TORONTO -- R.A. Dickey had his knuckleball fluttering Tuesday night, and at the same time, for a change, the Toronto Blue Jays' bats were booming.

Dickey, often a victim of poor run support this season, took advantage of four home runs from his teammates, and he recorded eight strikeouts over seven innings as the Blue Jays defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-3.

Josh Donaldson hit two solo home runs, Ezequiel Carrera added a solo shot, and Troy Tulowitzki hit a three-run blast to help Dickey (6-9) earn his first home win of the season.

"He was really, really good." Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of Dickey. "That was as good as you're going to see that knuckleball. There were a lot of strikeouts early in the game, and for a change, we gave him some run support early, and that does wonders for a starter. Nice for him to get off the schneid at home."

Dickey said, "It's great. Like I said before, you know if you just do your job, you know it's going to come."

It was just the seventh time in Dickey's 18 starts this season that the Blue Jays scored more than three runs for him.

"This is a (Royals) team that doesn't walk much, but they don't strike out a lot, either," Dickey said. "So when I saw a lot of swings and misses early, I figured (the knuckler) was moving. It was a nice night for it, too. There was a lot of humidity and a little wind in my face, and so it was certainly ideal conditions. But I had a good release point and I was changing speeds with it."

Dickey allowed four hits, three walks and two runs, both unearned.

The Blue Jays (47-39) earned their fourth win a row, while the Royals (43-40) endured their third consecutive loss. Kansas City fell to 16-29 in road games.

The World Series champion Royals will try to salvage the finale of the three-game series Wednesday in a rematch of the 2015 American League Championship Series.

Cheslor Cuthbert, who had three RBIs, hit a two-run homer for the Royals.

Kansas City starter Chris Young (2-8) gave up seven hits, including four home runs, and six runs in 2 1/3 innings. Five of the runs came in the third inning.

"At the beginning of the game, it looked like he was real sharp," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "He just ran into severe trouble in the third."

Yost said Young made a move to the third base side of the rubber to give him "more deception."

"The first two innings I'm thinking 'OK, looking pretty good," the manager said. "It just didn't happen for him in the third. ...

"(Meanwhile, Dickey's knuckleball) was really dancing. It was as good as we've ever seen it."

Royals right-hander Brooks Pounders made his major league debut in relief. After pitching around a single in the sixth, he allowed a run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Kevin Pillar that scored Donaldson, who led off with a single and took third on a single by Michael Saunders.

It was the 77th run scored this season by Donaldson, a Blue Jays record before the All-Star break. Carlos Delgado scored 76 runs before the All-Star break in 2003.

Joe Biagini pitched a perfect eighth for Toronto before allowing a ninth-inning run on a single by Eric Hosmer and a double by Cuthbert.

Donaldson hit his 21st homer of the season in the first inning and his 22nd in the third.

Between Donaldson's blasts, Carrera hit his fourth homer of the season in the third.

Later in the third, Edwin Encarnacion singled and Saunders doubled to set up Tulowitzki's three-run shot, his 15th homer of the season.

Young equaled a Royals record by allowing homers in 13 consecutive starts. Runelvys Hernandez gave up homers in 13 straight starts from Oct. 2, 2005, to Aug. 10, 2006.

Young, who struck out four, has allowed a major-league-leading 26 homers this season.

"It's been as frustrating as anything I've experienced in my career from a performance standpoint," Young said. "Physically and mentally, I've done everything I can to prepare when I go out there, but the results aren't there. It's beyond frustrating."

Dickey gave up his 20th homer of the season with two outs in the fourth. The two-run shot was Cuthbert's eighth of the season.

The Blue Jays scored a run in the bottom of the fourth after a double by Carrera, who was caught in a rundown on Donaldson's grounder. Donaldson reached second during the rundown and scored on Encarnacion's single.

NOTES: Royals RHP Wade Davis (forearm strain) went on the disabled list retroactive to Friday. The closer could be reinstated on July 16. RHP Brooks Pounders had his contract selected from Triple-A Omaha. LHP Tyler Olson was designated for assignment. Davis is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA and 19 saves this season. ... Toronto RHP Marco Estrada (sore back) is on schedule to make his next start after being limited to five innings by back issues on Saturday. Estrada had an MRI exam Sunday and a cortisone shot Monday. Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said it is possible that RHP Drew Hutchison, recalled Saturday from Triple-A Buffalo, could make a spot start Thursday, which would give Estrada an extra day. ... Royals RHP Ian Kennedy (6-7, 4.04 ERA) will face Toronto RHP Marcus Stroman (6-4, 5.08 ERA) Wednesday in the finale of the three-game series.