By MIKE FITZPATRICK
AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK (AP) – Carlos Beltran hit two of New York’s five solo homers in the first three innings off an ineffective Chris Young, and Aroldis Chapman allowed a run in his Yankees debut before closing out a 6-3 victory over the slumping Kansas City Royals on Monday night.

Brian McCann, Brett Gardner and Aaron Hicks also went deep to help the Yankees win the opener of a four-game series against the defending World Series champions.

Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer homered for the Royals, who have lost 10 of 13.

Ivan Nova gave the Yankees a good effort in his first start of the season, pitching in place of injured lefty CC Sabathia. Nova was pulled after 81 pitches – one out short of qualifying for a win – but New York’s fortified bullpen held Kansas City at bay.