Yanks top Royals

Vernon Wells hit a go-ahead two-run homer and made a long running catch to preserve a 3-2 victory for Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.

Pettitte (4-2) showed off his mastery of the Royals once more, allowing a run-scoring groundout by Lorenzo Cain and a solo homer by Billy Butler in seven stellar innings. The 40-year-old left-hander gave up five hits, struck out seven and improved to 15-3 in his career against the Royals.

Kansas City hasn’t beaten Pettitte in 14 starts dating to Sept. 4, 2000.

James Shields (2-3) was hurt by a throwing error on third baseman Mike Moustakas in the second inning that resulted in the Yankees’ first run. He also gave up Wells’ two-run shot in the fifth, moments after Butler’s home run had staked Kansas City to 2-1 lead.