Vargas roughed up in 11-7 loss

Jason Vargas got knocked around for the first time this season as the Royals dropped the second game of a three game set against the Yankees, 11-6.

The Yankees jumped on Vargas quickly in the 1st, when Starlin Castro knocked a two-out double past Jorge Soler in right to drive in Brett Gardner and put the Bombers up 1-0.

The wheels fell off in 4th, when Castro doubled again and was driven in on a Didi Gregorius single.

Aaron Hicks followed with a three-run shot to left, giving the Yankees a 5-0 lead.

Chris Carter continued the assault with a single to center to bring up Gardner, who tripled him home and extended that lead to 6-0.

It is worth noting that all six of Vargas’ runs were surrendered with two outs. He finished his night giving up those six runs in just 4.0 innings.

The Royals fired back in the bottom half of that inning with a two-run homer from Salvador Perez.

But the Yankwes were far from done. They tagged Peter Moylan for four more runs in the 5th to boost the lead to 10-2.

Whit Merrifield homered in the bottom half of the inning, but it was too little, too late.

Yankees starter Michael Pineda gave the Yankees 6+ solid innings, giving up four runs on six hits.

The Royals rallied in the 9th for three runs and brought the tying run into the on-deck circle, but Dellin Betances got Eric Hosmer to ground out to end the game.

The Royals will look to avoid the sweep tomorrow night at 7:15 PM CDT. Danny Duffy is on the mound for the Royals and will be opposed by rookie left-hander Jordan Montgomery.