KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals (9-17, 2-11 home) got their second home win of the season on Saturday night, beating the New York Yankees (14-13, 7-7 away) 5-1 at Kauffman Stadium.
A two-run RBI double by Royals designated hitter Billy Butler gave the Royals a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
That two-run padding seemed to fuel Royals pitcher Felipe Paulino, who made sure his first start of 2012 was an effective one. Paulino (1-0, 0.00 ERA) tossed six shutout innings, gave up six hits, struck out six, and walked two.
Butler hit his second RBI double of the game in the fifth inning to give Kansas City a 3-0 lead.
In the sixth, a sacrifice fly by Royals center fielder Jarrod Dyson made it 4-0, and an RBI double by Royals left fielder Alex Gordon gave Kansas City a 5-0 lead.
That’s all the padding Kansas City’s bullpen would need to clinch at least a series split with the Yankees.
Royals starter Luke Hochevar (2-2, 7.36 ERA) takes the mound against Yankees pitcher Phil Hughes (1-4, 7.48 ERA) for game four of this series on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium.
