Yankees attempt to halt slide vs. Royals

(SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Yankees try to put the brakes on a six- game losing streak and avoid falling under .500 on Monday when they start a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium.

New York was swept over the weekend by the Texas Rangers, culminating with a 5-2 loss on Sunday, and has now lost 10 of 11 for the first time since May 23- June 3, 1995.

"Teams are going to go through streaks where they're not hitting, they're not pitching, but we're making way too many mental errors. We're playing way too sloppy out there," Yankees slugger Mark Teixeira said. "One mental error every now and then is OK. We seem to be having two or three a night."

New York's bats continued to struggle, as it is hitting a mere .214 during the slide. It may not get any better on Monday for the Yanks, who are batting a major league-worst .198 in day games this season.

"There's frustration in the room. There better be frustration," Yanks manager Joe Girardi said.

Hoping to avoid the team's first seven-game slide since 2007 will be hard- throwing righty Nathan Eovaldi, who is 3-1 with a 4.73 ERA. Eovaldi did not get a decision on Tuesday in Washington, but did not pitch well, as he allowed five runs and seven hits in just 4 1/3 innings of an 8-6 loss.

Eovaldi, who has never faced the Royals, has given up no fewer than six hits in all eight appearances this season. That doesn't bode well for him this afternoon, as Kansas City has won six of its last eight in which they have at least six hits.

Kansas City was denied a sweep on Sunday, as St. Louis salvaged the finale of a three-game set and handed the Royals a 6-1 loss.

Yordano Ventura (3-4) took the loss, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks in seven innings.

It was only the second loss in Kansas City's last nine overall games and it still sits atop the American League Central standings.

Getting the call for the Royals on Monday will be righty Jeremy Guthrie, who has won his last three starts. Guthrie was terrific against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, scattering five hits over six scoreless innings to run his record to 4-2 to go along with a 4.75 ERA.

Guthrie is 5-10 lifetime versus the Yankees with a 4.92 ERA.

Kansas City took two of three from the Yanks earlier this month.