The New York Yankees scored 7 runs in the 6 th inning on the way to an 11-5 trouncing of the Kansas City Royals Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium.

Alex Rodriguez, Wilson Betemit, and Johnny Damon had big nights at the plate. Rodriguez and Betemit had 3 RBIs apiece. Rodriguez belted his 50 th and 51 st roundtrippers of the season. Betemit hit home run number 14. Johnny Damon homered, as well, smacking his 10 th . Mike Sweeney had 3 runs batted in for the Royals.

Andy Pettitte (13-8) got the win for the Yankees, allowing only 2 earned runs on 7 hits in 6 1/3 innings. Brian Bannister (12-8) took the loss, giving up 7 earned runs on 7 hits in 5 innings.

The Royals (62-79) and Yankees (80-62) play again Sunday afternoon at the K. Zack Greinke (6-5) goes to the mound for K.C. against New York’s Chien-Ming Wang (17-6).