Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - A.J. Burnett looked like he was heading for another frustrating loss or no-decision, having just given up the lead in the fifth inning.
But the Yankees offense rallied to go back on top in the sixth, highlighted by Derek Jeter's two-run triple, to guide New York to a 7-4 victory over the Royals and help their starter win for the first time in more than a month.
Burnett (9-9) lasted just 5 2/3 innings -- the 11th time this season he's failed to go at least six innings -- and allowed three runs and 10 hits. He gave up all his runs after Kansas City loaded the bases in the fifth, but got a key double play to escape further damage.
Because of his teammates' subsequent run support, the right-hander picked up his first win since June 29. He was 0-3 with a 6.00 earned run average in seven starts since.
"I used a changeup a lot to both righties and lefties, got a couple of ground balls when I needed it with that pitch," Burnett said.
Jeter finished 3-for-4 with three RBI while Brett Gardner had two hits and drove in two for New York, which pulled into a tie with idle Boston atop the AL East standings.
Felipe Paulino (1-5) allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings to take the loss for Kansas City, which was coming off a 1-6 road trip. Rookie second baseman Johnny Giavotella had a career-best three hits.
The Yankees jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning, when Gardner's base hit up the middle and Jeter's line-drive single past diving shortstop Alcides Escobar plated runs.
They had a chance for more with the bases loaded and two out, but Gardner was caught trying to take home when the ball bounced away from catcher Salvador Perez.
Burnett made the lead stand through the first four innings, facing the minimum in the first and third. But Kansas City got to him in the fifth.
Singles by Mike Moustakas, Escobar and Alex Gordon loaded the bases with one away, bringing up former Yankee Melky Cabrera. Burnett got ahead of him, 0-2, but threw a couple pitches high. A third high pitch, which almost sailed past catcher Russell Martin, made the count full before a ball in the dirt forced in a run.
Billy Butler then slapped a single down the right field line, plating two more runs for a 3-2 Royals lead.
However, Eric Hosmer grounded into a double play and the Yankees rallied in their next at-bat.
Like Kansas City the inning before, New York strung together three consecutive singles. However, Jorge Posada went first to third on Martin's base hit, allowing him to score when Gardner singled to right.
Jeter followed with a triple to the wall in right-center to give New York a 5-3 edge and chase Paulino.
"The reason they make a lot of money is because they don't miss mistakes," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Every ball that he (Paulino) got hurt on were pitches up."
The Yankees added runs in the seventh and eighth -- on singles by pinch-hitter Andruw Jones and Mark Teixeira, respectively -- while their bullpen limited the Royals after Burnett was removed.
Boone Logan recorded the final out of the sixth and the first in the seventh, when Rafael Soriano gave up an RBI double to Cabrera. But he got out of the inning without giving up another run.
David Robertson pitched a scoreless eighth, and Mariano Rivera worked a flawless ninth for his 31st save.