Robinson Cano homered and Hiroki Kuroda pitched into the eighth inning as New York beat the 4-2 to finish off a three-game sweep. The Royals have lost five of their last six.

Vernon Wells homered for the second straight game as Kuroda (5-2) won for the fifth time in six decisions. He allowed only a sacrifice fly by the Royals’ Alex Gordon and an RBI groundout by Alcides Escobar over 7.2 innings. The right-hander at one point went 15 batters without allowing a hit.

David Robertson retired Butler to end the Royals’ eighth-inning rally, and Mariano Rivera worked around a leadoff single in the ninth to remain perfect in 15 save opportunities.  Rivera has converted his last 29 chances against the Royals dating to Aug. 18, 1998, his longest active streak against any team. His only other blown save against them happened in 1996.