Royals 5, Yankees 1: Billy Butler homered to back 6 2/3 solid innings by Jeremy Guthrie as visiting Kansas City captured the opener of the four-game series.

Alcides Escobar had an RBI triple and David Lough, Johnny Giavotella and Alex Gordon added run-scoring doubles as the Royals handed New York its second straight defeat following a six-game winning streak.

Guthrie (8-6) pitched through a 59-minute rain delay to win for the first time in five starts, limiting the Yankees to one run on six hits. Tim Collins and Aaron Crow each got big inning-ending outs, but Luke Hochevar ran into ninth-inning trouble before closer Greg Holland came on to strike out the side for his 21st save in 23 chances.

Lyle Overbay delivered a pinch-hit solo homer in the seventh for New York to cut the lead to 3-1, but the Royals tacked on two runs in the ninth. Phil Hughes (4-8) did not return after the rains came and was charged with two runs on four hits in four innings in losing his fifth straight start at Yankee Stadium.

The Royals broke on top with two runs in the second on Butler's leadoff homer and doubles by Mike Moustakas and Lough. Giavotella's RBI double off Adam Warren made it 3-0 in the seventh before Overbay halted Guthrie's shutout bid in the bottom of the inning.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Yankees CF Brett Gardner set a franchise record by striking out at least once in 16 consecutive games. ... Eric Hosmer, Lough and Moustakas each had two hits as the Royals ended a five-game skid at the hands of New York. ... Yankees 1B Travis Ishikawa, claimed off waivers Sunday after being designated for assignment by Baltimore, started and struck out in both his plate appearances. The Yankees optioned 3B David Adams to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to open a roster slot.