BOSTON — Cleveland reliever Oliver Pérez broke a spike loose on his shoe, and three batters later, the Boston

Red Sox broke the game open.

Sandy León hit a three-run homer off Pérez after he caused an odd stoppage asking for new footwear, J.D. Martinez homered twice and the Red Sox beat the Indians 12-5 Monday.

He said after the game that the toe spike came loose when he was grooming the mound getting ready for the first batter he faced.

“It never happened to me before,” he said. “It’s kind of funny. It’s part of the game.”

Boston socked it to him after that. Jackie Bradley Jr. hit an RBI double to make it 6-3 after Pérez retired the first batter, and León followed with his drive into the Green Monster seats.

“I heard he busted out of ’em,” said Bradley, who was on-deck. “I’ve never seen anything like that. I didn’t actually see it, still.”

Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts had RBI doubles earlier in the inning against starter Jefry Rodríguez (1-5).

León, who is known for his defense and calling games behind the plate, came in hitting just .167 with one homer and five RBIs.

Bradley added another RBI double, and Mookie Betts and Bogaerts each had two hits and scored twice for the Red Sox, who have won 18 of 26.

Boston starter Rick Porcello (4-4) gave up five runs, three earned, on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Cleveland, which won the AL Central the last three seasons, entered the day 10 games behind surprising Minnesota. The Red Sox, who have three straight East crowns, began 6 ½ behind the first-place Yankees.

INJURY REPORT — Red Sox: Pedroia was transferred from the 10- to 60-day injured list. His surgically repaired left knee has limited him to nine games the last two seasons. “Time will give me the right answer if my knee can do this,” he said. … Holt was activated from the 10-day IL before the game.

BILL BUCKNER — Boston held a moment of silence and showed highlights of former player Bill Buckner, who died Monday. He was 69.

Buckner was an All-Star and batting champion, a gritty gamer who was welcome on any team.

Buckner died after a long battle with Lewy body dementia, his family said in a statement. The disease causes Alzheimer’s-like symptoms along with movement and other problems.

Buckner made his major league debut as a teenager, played until he was 40 and amassed 2,715 hits in between.

At Fenway Park on Monday, video clips of Buckner’s 22-year career were shown on the scoreboard before the Red Sox hosted Cleveland. His picture was posted and there was a moment of silence, followed by applause from the crowd.

In a statement, Red Sox chairman Tom Werner praised “Billy Buck,” saying he “personified toughness and grit, and his determination to play through pain defines him far more than any single play ever could.”

Tweeted former Boston teammate Wade Boggs: “OMG such a sad day can’t put it in perspective with the only reason why we made it to the World Series in 86.”

Buckner lived in Boise, Idaho, after he finished playing. He was the hitting coach for the Chicago Cubs’ minor league affiliate in Boise in 2012-13 and owned three car dealerships and several commercial properties in Idaho.

He is survived by his wife, Jodi, two daughters and one son.

UP NEXT — Indians: RHP Zach Plesac will make his major league debut tonight.

Red Sox: LHP David Price (2-2, 3.24 ERA) is scheduled to start. He left his previous one Saturday after throwing just 15 pitches due to illness.

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