By MATT PIKE
The New York Yankees hit six home runs and every starter in the lineup had at least two hits for the first time in franchise history, sending New York to a 15-1 rout of the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
The win marked the 12th consecutive win over the Royals for the Yankees. Amed Rosario homered twice and Cody Bellinger, Anthony Volpe, Trent Grisham and Jazz Chisholm Jr. also went deep for the Yankees, who have hit a league-leading 82 home runs this season. Kansas City, by comparison, has hit just 51. The Yankees finished with 24 hits against Kansas City, their most since a game against Baltimore on July 30, 2011.
Cam Schlittler allowed his third home run of the year, a solo shot by Bobby Witt Jr., but little else over six innings. It was the seventh time in his last eight starts that Schlittler allowed one earned run or fewer, and he struck out six without issuing a walk.
The Royals sent Bailey Falter, who fell to 0-2 on the season, out against him to lead off a designated bullpen game. He wound up allowing as many runs, seven, as he recorded outs, and the Yankees proceeded to pull away against Luinder Avila and the rest of the Kansas City staff. That also included backup outfielder Tyler Tolbert, who threw a diet of 44 mph lobs in the ninth inning.
Kansas City and New York wrap up their series tomorrow. Noah Cameron (2-3, 4.72 ERA, 44K's) takes the mound for the Royals against Gerrit Cole (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2K's) making his second start since Tommy John surgery. First pitch is at 6:40pm, pregame at 6 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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