Yankees 3, Royals 2
Vernon Wells belted a two-run homer to back seven strong innings from Andy Pettitte as visiting New York extended its winning streak to four games.
Pettitte (4-2) rebounded from a pair of rocky outings to win his 10th consecutive decision against Kansas City. The 40-year-old left-hander struck out seven and allowed two runs on five hits to improve to 15-3 lifetime against the Royals.
Wells put the Yankees ahead with his eighth homer in the fifth off James Shields. David Robertson struck out the side in the eighth before Mariano Rivera worked around a two-out double in the ninth for his 14th save in 14 chances.
Shields (2-3) was the hard-luck loser, going eight innings for the second straight start and yielding three runs (two earned) on six hits to fall to 7-15 lifetime against New York.
Billy Butler put Kansas City ahead with a solo homer in the fourth for a 2-1 lead, but Wells answered with a two-out, two-run blast in the Yankees' next at-bat.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Rivera made his first appearance at Kauffman Stadium since tearing an ACL there while shagging fly balls May 3, 2012. He has converted 28 consecutive saves against the Royals dating to Aug. 18, 1998, while Pettitte's last loss to Kansas City was in August 1999. ... Butler's homer gave him 500 RBIs for his career. ... Yankees SS Eduardo Nunez (ribcage) remained sidelined due to soreness and sat out his fifth game in a row.