The New York Yankees sweep the Kansas City Royals behind a very good Michael Pineda

The New York Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday afternoon.  The game took place at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York and the final score was 4-2.  Michael Pineda started for the Yankees and pitched very well, the bullpen closed it out.  Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran each had two hits to lead the offense. 

Pineda pitched 6 2/3 innings giving up six hits and a run with a walk and eight strikeouts.  He won his sixth game of the season.  David Carpenter gave up a hit to the only batter that he faced, Justin Wilson retired the only batter that he faced and Dellin Betances pitched an inning giving up a hit and an unearned run.  He walked one and struck out three.  Andrew Miller earned his 14th save of the season pitching a perfect inning. 

Chris Young lost his first game of the season pitching six innings.  He gave up seven hits and four runs with two walks and seven strikeouts.  Young lost his first game of the season, Ryan Madson pitched an inning giving up two hits and a walk with a strikeout and Franklin Morales pitched an inning with a strikeout. 

Brett Gardner had a hit, Chase Headley had a hit and drew a walk and Rodriguez had two hits and three RBI.  Teixeira had a hit, Brian McCann had a hit, an RBI and drew two walks.  Carlos Beltran had two hits, Slade Heathcott had a hit and Headley and Gardner each hit a double.  McCann and Rodriguez each hit a homerun and the Yankees were 1-5 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.  Gregorius committed an error. 

Alcides Escobar had three hits, Mike Moustakas had a hit and an RBI and Lorenzo Cain drew a walk.  Eric Hosmer had a hit, Kendrys Morales had two hits and Alex Gordon drew a walk.  Paulo Orlando had a hit which was a double and Moustakas hit a homerun.  The Royals were 2-5 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.  Cain had a stolen base. 

In the first Moustakas hit a solo homerun to give the Royals a quick 1-0 lead.  In the second McCann tied the game with a solo homerun.  In the third Rodriguez hit a three run homerun to give the Yankees a 4-1 lead.  In the eighth the Royals cut the lead to 4-2 on a Morales RBI single.  4-2 would be the final score of the game. 

The Yankees swept the three game series and now have a 1 1/2 game lead in the AL East.  The Yankees begin a four game series with the Oakland A's on Thursday night in Oakland.