Yankees 3, Royals 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Andy Pettitte won for the first time since mid-April and Vernon Wells hit a two-run homer as the New York Yankees topped the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Saturday night for their second straight win in the series at Kauffman Stadium.
Pettitte (4-2) allowed just five balls out of the infield in seven innings, including Billy Butler's fourth homer of the year that gave the Royals a brief 2-1 lead in the fourth inning.
Pettitte gave up five hits and two runs with six strikeouts and one walk to pick up his first victory since beating Toronto on April 19.
Wells connected for a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the fifth to cap the scoring. It was Wells' eighth homer of the year but just his second since April 25.
Mariano Rivera worked around a two-out double by Salvador Perez in the ninth to convert his 14th save in as many opportunities. It was Rivera's first appearance at Kauffman Stadium since suffering a season-ending right knee injury last May 3 while shagging fly balls during batting practice.
Royals starter James Shields (2-3) went eight innings, allowing three runs (two earned), six hits and two walks against five strikeouts.
The Royals are 4-4 in Shields' eight starts this season, with all four losses decided by one run.
The Yankees took the lead on an unearned run in the top of the third. After Chris Nelson doubled into the left-field corner, Chris Stewart and Brett Gardner popped up and Shields coaxed a soft grounder from Robinson Cano, but Mike Moustakas threw wide of first, allowing Nelson to score for a 1-0 advantage.
The Royals answered in the bottom of the inning despite not hitting the ball out of the infield.
Elliott Johnson led off with an infield hit, then stole second and advanced to third on a groundout before Lorenzo Cain brought him home with another grounder, tying the score 1-1.
Butler's fourth-inning homer was just the third ball that Pettitte allowed out of the infield through the first four innings.
Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez had consecutive, sharply hit ground ball singles to the outfield in the second.
NOTES: In facing off against Pettitte, Shields made his seventh start against a former All-Star in eight starts this year. Shields has previously pitched against Chris Sale (twice), Cole Hamels, R.A. Dickey, Clay Buchholz and Justin Verlander. The Royals were 4-3 in Shields' first seven starts, with all three losses coming by one run. ... The Yankees will add a pitcher to their roster for the doubleheader in Cleveland on Monday, using their optional 26th-man spot for that purpose. While the one extra spot will be used for a pitcher for both games of the doubleheader, manager Joe Girardi did not rule out other players being added to the roster. "We'll use it just for a pitcher; it's a long day," Girardi said. "You can designate one guy as a 26th player, but you can make moves between the games."
