Kauffman Stadium’s biggest crowd of the year saw quite a show. 40,406 squeezed in to watch the Royals top the Yankees 12-9. The teams combined for 19 doubles, which set an American League record; the Royals hit 11 of them, which set a franchise mark. Mike Sweeney and Mike DiFelice drove in three runs apiece, while Aaron Guiel and Joe Randa had two RBI’s. Guiel’s two-run double in the sixth inning gave Kansas City a 7-6 lead and the Royals never trailed again. Paul Abbot made his first start of the year, lasting 4 2/3 innings and giving up six runs. D.J. Carrasco relieved Abbott and retired all five batters he faced to earn his fourth win of the season. Mike MacDougal made things interesting by allowing two runs off three hits in the ninth inning. He was able to get Jorge Posada to ground into a double play to end it. The Royals were beneficiaries of the White Sox 10-8 loss to the Angels, which gave Kansas City a game and a half lead over Chicago in the A.L. Central. The Twins beat the Indians 5-3 and trail the Royals by two and a half.
