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Yankees-Royals Preview

Aug 12, 2010 - 5:35 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

New York (69-43) at Kansas City (47-66), 8:10 p.m. EDT

After three straight thrilling one-run games, the New York Yankees might find a drop in intensity in their next series.

They'll begin a four-game set Thursday night against the lowly Kansas City Royals with slugger Mark Teixeira likely to return to the lineup and CC Sabathia in search of his 15th win.

New York (70-43) became the first team in the majors to reach 70 wins after a 7-6 victory at AL West-leading Texas on Wednesday night. The Yankees rallied from a 6-1 deficit after five innings, chasing Cliff Lee in the seventh and taking the lead in the ninth on Marcus Thames' RBI single.

Closer Mariano Rivera allowed a leadoff triple to Elvis Andrus in the bottom of the ninth before stranding him at third by retiring the next three hitters. Rivera was the loser in Tuesday's 4-3, 10-inning defeat.

"That's Mo, right through the heart of their order, three tremendous hitters," manager Joe Girardi said. "I was thinking we're in trouble here, but if anyone can do it, Mo can."

The comeback helped the Yankees avoid a third straight loss - they fell 2-1 on Monday to archrival Boston. New York increased its lead in the AL East over Tampa Bay to 1 1/2 games.

Thames served as the designated hitter and went 5 for 10 in the two games with the Rangers. Teixeira missed the series since his wife gave birth to the couple's third child, but the Yankees expect him back against the Royals.

Teixeira went 7 for 16 with two homers, five RBIs and eight runs scored as New York took three of four July 22-25 from Kansas City (47-67).

The Royals used veterans Jose Guillen, Scott Podsednik and Rick Ankiel in that series, but none of those players are currently on the team. A younger team is back home after losing the final four games of a 2-7 road trip.

Kansas City totaled 17 runs on the trip, including six in a three-game sweep by the Angels capped by Wednesday's 2-1, 10-inning loss.

"Usually the team that pitches better wins," center fielder Mitch Maier said. "We had plenty of opportunities with guys on base, but we didn't get big hits when we needed them, and that's the story of the series right there."

It won't be easy to get untracked against Sabathia (14-5, 3.14 ERA), who can tie the Rays' David Price for the AL lead in victories. He avoided a third straight loss Saturday by giving up two runs in eight innings in a 5-2 win over Boston.

The left-hander has faced the Royals more than any other team, going 16-10 with a 3.30 ERA in 33 starts against them. Sabathia is 5-2 with a 2.91 ERA in his last eight outings at Kauffman Stadium.

Bruce Chen (7-5, 4.44) will oppose Sabathia for the second time after allowing five runs over six innings to suffer a 10-4 loss July 22. Chen fell to 1-4 with a 6.29 ERA in 11 career starts against the Yankees.

Derek Jeter is 13 for 32 against Chen while Teixeira is 9 for 14 with six homers and 12 RBIs.

Chen is seeking to win three straight starts for the first time since Aug. 5-16, 2005, with Baltimore. He allowed one run over seven innings Saturday in a 2-1 victory at Seattle.