(SportsNetwork.com) - A pair of division leaders get together at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday when the Kansas City Royals host the New York Yankees in the second of a three-game set.
Kansas City, which will be hosting interleague action against Cincinnati and St. Louis next week, has won two straight and three of the last four outings thanks to a punishing 12-1 victory in the series opener on Friday.
The Royals exploded for 17 hits, with Mike Moustakas leading the attack with four hits, including a pair of doubles and a triple as he scored three times. Lorenzo Cain and Omar Infante both notched three hits, the former plating a total of five and scoring twice himself. Kendrys Morales accounted for three RBI for a team that left 10 on base.
"We just put good at-bats together," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "It took us a little while. He doesn't walk anyone and he comes right at you and we just put good at-bats together."
Kansas City starter Chris Young moved to 3-0 on the campaign after permitting just a single run on four hits and a pair of walks through 5 2/3 innings.
Michael Pineda, who registered 16 strikeouts in his previous outing against Baltimore a week earlier, was charged with the loss for the Yankees, his first of the campaign after logging five victories. Pineda was knocked around for five runs on 10 hits, striking out only one in 5 1/3 innings.
"They have a really good lineup," Pineda said. "We go out there, try to do our best. These games, it happens sometimes. I'm keeping my head up, continue working and be ready for next time."
Mark Teixeira had two of the five hits tallied by a New York club that has lost four in a row. Alex Rodriguez, now hitting .250, scored the only run of the game for the Yankees.
Fresh off his first win of the season, CC Sabathia tries to make it two in a row on Saturday when he takes the hill for the Yankees. Now just 25 strikeouts shy of 2,500 for his career, Sabathia finally broke through versus Tampa Bay on the road Monday as he gave up three earned runs on six hits and a pair of walks. While he surrendered two home runs, he also struck out a season-high nine as he lowered his ERA to 5.20.
The left-hander, who has already given up eight home runs in 45 innings, has a career mark of 18-11 with a 3.25 ERA in 36 all-time appearances versus the Royals.
Going up against New York will be Danny Duffy, who has split his first four decisions, but is currently dealing with a two-game losing streak.
Earlier in the week Duffy was touched for six runs no five hits and six bases- on-balls by Texas in an 8-2 setback in Arlington. Duffy has been charged with 10 earned runs in his last two games, a span of only 4 2/3 innings.
For his career, the 2007 draft pick is an even 1-1 with an 8.36 ERA in four appearances against New York.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.