Royals win opener 4-3

Kansas City took the opener Friday night to begin the Yankees 3 game home stand. Royals beat the Yankees and Rivera by the score of 4-3 as they survived a 9th inning jam against the bombers. Yankees bounced back today with an RBI  single by rookie Brett Gardner in the 13th inning to beat the Royals as they split the first 2 games with the rubber game tomorrow afternoon

Friday: Yanks looked to score first against Gil Meche and the Royals but the ywere stuffed out. Johnny Damon led off the Yankee night by reaching on an fielding error by German. Gil Meche got Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu out on strikeouts then walked Alex Rodriguez to put 2 men aboard but Jason Giambi who has the stache again grounded out to end the threat and the inning.

Andy Pettitte breezed thru the first inning but found some trouble by walking Jose Guillen to open the second. He retired Billy Butler on a fly out but then surrendered a double to power-hitting Alex Gordon with 1 away. Ross Gload drove in the Royals first run of the night on a sac fly to gardner to open the scoring.

John Buck who came into the game 0 for  for his last 30 led off the 5th against the big left hander with a ground-rule double. Andy Pettitte issued Esteban German a fre pass (1 of 4) to give the Royals a chance to score. Royals center fiedler Mitch Maier sac bunted that moved the runners up. Andy walked Mike Aviles intentionally then the move back fired when Mark Teahen ripped an ground rule double to left to give the Royals a 3-0 lead. Pettitte limited the damage when he igot Billy Butler to fly out and then fanned Alex Gordonswinging.

Yankees got on the board finally in the 5th inning. Jose Molina who is Pettitte’s personal catcher  got things started with an ground-rule double. Derek jeetr who had 3 hits on the night delievered a clutch hit to drive in Molina to cut the lead to 3-1. Yankees were further sniffed as Abreu and Alex Rodriguez both flied out.

Yankees tied the game after Royals took out starter Gil Meche who went 6 solid innings of 6 hit 1 run baseball while walking 2 and fanning 8 bombers. Royals elected to bring in their lefty specialist Ron Mahay who ahsnt pitched in a week and that moved came back and bit them. Johnny Damon worked his way on with a free pass with 1 out then Derek Jeter walked as well to put runners at 1st and 2nd and  1 away. Bobby Abreu greeted Royals right handed relief pitcher Leo Nunez with an run scoring single to right to cut lead 3-2. Alex Rodriguez who was looking for a huge clutch hit did not happen but he did hit a tying run on  a sacrifice fly 3-3 after 7.

Mariano Rivera came in on an 3-3 tied game in the 9th and he was again less then perfect as he gave up the go ahead and the winning run for the Royals. In his first apperance since his blown save in Tuesday game against the Twins he struckout John Buck to lead off the frame but then he allowed a double to German then advance on a groundball single by Mitch Maier. With rookie Mike Aviles up Rivera threw a wildpitch off Molinas glove that prooved to be the winning run to give the Royals a 4-3 lead. Rivera would go no further trouble when he got Aviles and Teahen.

Yankees tried to rally against super clsoer Joakim Soria but couldnt swell the victory out. Wilson Betemit who pinched hit singled on a swinging bunt as Justin Christian pinched ran. Johnny Damon awaited a 3-2 pitch when Soria quickly threw to first to pick off the young speedy Christian for the first out that would proove costly. johnny bounced away to defensive replacement Tony Pean JR ofr the second out. But the Yankees who are one of the best teams that are good hitting team with 2 outs didnt go away quietly. Derek Jeter singled then advanced to second on  Abreu’s walk then Aleex rodriguez loaded the mfull when he hit a single to the pitcher. Giambi drilled a 2-1 pitch but was lined right into Mitch Maier who was shallow to cose the game as Royals took game 1 4-3.