KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Yankees have played well enough this month to hang around the fringes of the pennant race, but everything is relative. Among the jumble of teams contending for an American League wild-card spot, the Kansas City Royals are on the fast track.
The Royals thumped the Yankees, 8-5, on Monday at Kauffman Stadium. It was the 18th victory in 22 games for the Royals, the defending World Series champions, who now trail Baltimore by two games for the second A.L. wild-card spot.