KANSAS CITY -- Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer and Red Sox infielder Deven Marrero used to dream of this day. As they rode to school or baseball practice, the two "childhood best friends," as Hosmer called them, often pictured themselves someday playing on the same Major League field.
During the Red Sox's 8-3 win on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium, Hosmer and Marrero did for the first time.
"The day's finally come," Hosmer said before the game.

Called up in a slew of moves on Tuesday, Marrero began his third stint with Boston this season. He started at third base and went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Marrero has played 72 games since being selected 24th overall in the 2012 Draft, but none of those were against Hosmer's Royals.
Hosmer and Marrero met when they started playing on the same baseball team when Marrero was 9 and Hosmer was 10. They went on to star together at American Heritage High School in Plantation, Fla., before the Royals drafted Hosmer third overall in 2008. They hadn't played on the same field since.
The same month Hosmer was drafted, Marrero's father, Luis, was arrested and later convicted on charges of sexual battery. In that time of crisis, Marrero said the Hosmer family helped look after him and his sisters. The Hosmers, who attended Tuesday's game, refer to Marrero as a third child, and Marrero considers the Hosmers family.
"I get chills thinking about these two on the same field again," Hosmer's father Mike said.
Prior to the game, Hosmer and Marrero wrapped each other in a tight hug near second base. They laughed, and Hosmer congratulated his friend. Though Hosmer and Marrero are roommates in the offseason, it made Marrero think of playing together in high school.

"I'll never forget this game," said Marrero, who threw out Hosmer in the seventh inning. "That's family, that's blood right there."
Later, in the sixth inning, Marrero drew a walk. Once he arrived at first base, he and Hosmer chatted like they did when they were younger. Only now, instead of imagining themselves on a Major League field, the dream was their reality.