NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon McCarthy won for the second time in six starts, and the Yankees feasted on Kansas City’s bullpen after Royals starter Danny Duffy left because of an injury following his first pitch.

A night after a 1-0 loss in the series opener dropped them 4½ games back for the AL’s second wild card, the weak-hitting Yankees scored as many as six runs for the first time since Aug. 29.

McCarthy (6-4) allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings.

Kansas City, which had won four in a row, remained two games ahead of Detroit in the AL Central.

Duffy threw a ball to Jacoby Ellsbury and walked around the mound in discomfort, causing catcher Salvador Perez to motion toward Kansas City’s dugout. He was relieved by Liam Hendriks (1-1), who pitched four innings.