The New York Yankees were shut out by the Kansas City Royals, 6-0, on Monday night in the opening game of their three-game series at Yankee Stadium. Hiroki Kuroda (3-6) was tagged with the loss after giving up three earned runs and seven hits with four strikeouts and three walks.
Mike Moustakas put the Royals on the board with a two-run home run with two outs in the first inning. Eric Hosmer batted in Kuroda's third earned run on a double to score Jarrod dyson in the third. Freddy Garcia gave up a two-run home run on the first batter he faced after relieving Clay Rapada in the seventh inning. Jeff Francoeur went deep to left center, bringing Billy Butler around home. Ian Falu scored in the eighth on a wild pitch by Garcia.
Felipe Paulino (2-1) pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings for the Royal, giving up six hits and striking out eight. Alex Rodriguez and Russell Martin both went 2-for-4 at the plated with a double. The Yankees went hitless in 13 at-bats Monday with runners in scoring position. The Yankees (21-21) are now tied for the last in the American League East with the Boston Red Sox.
The series continues Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium (7:05 p.m. ET) with Phil Hughes (3-5, 5.23 ERA) pitching for the Yankees and Luke Hochevar (3-4, 7.02) pitching for Kansas City.
-- For more on the Yankees, see Pinstripe Alley.