NEW YORK -- Obtained by the Yankees from Arizona in separate July trades, Brandon McCarthy and Martin Prado are doing their best to keep alive New Yorks slim playoff hopes. McCarthy won for the second time in six starts and Prado had three hits as the Yankees feasted on Kansas Citys bullpen in a 6-2 win Saturday after Royals starter Danny Duffy left because of an injury following his first pitch. McCarthy, dealt on July 6, allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings with four strikeouts and a walk. He is 6-4 with a 2.87 ERA for the Yankees after going 3-10 with a 5.01 ERA in 18 starts for the Diamondbacks. "Its nice just to contribute," he said. "I spent the first half of the season being a hindrance on an organization, and thats something that doesnt sit well. So to come somewhere where theres a playoff race going on, and youre a positive influence on something thats helping the team win, thats really all you can ask for." Prado, acquired on July 31, played for the first time since straining his left hamstring Tuesday and had three hits, raising his average to .309 with the Yankees. He hit .270 with the Diamondbacks. Prados 10th multihit effort in his last 16 games fueled a rare offensive outburst by the weak-hitting Yankees, who scored as many as six runs for the first time since Aug. 29. A night earlier, a 1-0 loss in the series opener dropped them 4 1/2 games back for the ALs second wild card. "Hitting is contagious, I believe," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It just picks your club up Its uplifting. The last 20 games, hes been unbelievable." The Yankees scored all their runs in the first five innings off Liam Hendriks and Casey Coleman, called on because of Duffys sore left shoulder. Prado doubled off Hendriks (1-1) with two outs in the first and gave his hamstring a test when he came around on Mark Teixeiras single. "I was like, please, just let me get to home plate," Prado said. Prado said he is playing at less than 100 per cent but wants to be in the lineup as the Yankees try to avoid missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1992 and 93. "Im trying to be smart," Prado said. "I want to be in there for my teammates." After Alex Gordons RBI bloop single tied the score in the third, the Yankees went ahead for good in the bottom half on Jacoby Ellsburys run-scoring triple and Derek Jeters sacrifice fly. Chase Headley make it 4-1 in the fourth when he scored from third after Perez overthrew third base for an error on a pickoff attempt. Carlos Beltran doubled in a run in the fifth and scored on a single by pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki. Mike Moustakas had a sacrifice fly in the seventh, ending McCarthys day, but Shawn Kelley, Dellin Betances and David Robertson combined for hitless relief. New York relievers have thrown 11 innings of scoreless, three-hit relief in their last four games with 14 strikeouts and no walks. "Just a good team game," McCarthy said. Kansas City (78-62) remained two games ahead of Detroit in the AL Central, but the Royals were far more concerned with the state of Duffys left shoulder. Duffy, who returned in August 2013 following elbow ligament-replacement surgery, entered the day with a 2.44 ERA, third-best in the AL. "We will send him home tomorrow and get an MRI to see what we are dealing with," Royals manager Ned Yost said. Kansas City scored four runs or fewer for the eighth straight game -- including a suspended game against Cleveland on Aug. 31 that will resume on Sept. 22. But the Royals are 4-3 in that span thanks to their pitching. "We will get a hit here and there, but not really consistent all-around," Gordon said. "We just need to get more consistent and have some big innings." TRAINERS ROOM Royals: RHP Greg Holland was missed his second straight game due to a tight right triceps. "Hopefully a day or two or three recovery and be ready to go," Yost said. ... DH Josh Willingham returned Saturday after missing six games because of a sore back and went 1 for 4. Yankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka threw a 34-pitch bullpen session. Girardi said the club needs to see Tanaka pitch in a game this season to know whether he can pitch without surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. ... C Francisco Cervelli missed the game because of a migraine. ... OF Brett Gardner didnt play after aggravating an abdominal injury Friday. Girardi said he was questionable at best for Sunday. UP NEXT Yankees RHP Shane Greene (4-2) opposes Royals RHP Yordano Ventura (11-9) in the series finale after a pregame ceremony on Derek Jeter Day. BETANCES MOVING ON UP: Betances threw a perfect eighth inning with one strikeout, his 125th of the season. Thats the second-most in team history for a reliever, three strikeouts ahead of Rich Gossage in 1978 and five shy of Mariano Rivera in 1996. "Look at the names -- one Hall of Famer and one just waiting four more years," Girardi said. "Thats how dominant he has been this year, and how good he has been." THE M&M BOYS: McCarthy credited catcher John Ryan Murphy -- whom hed never thrown to before Saturday -- for helping him labour through a 105-pitch effort on a humid 89-degree afternoon. "Wasnt really sharp, but I felt like Murphy did a good job getting me through it and making sure we could kind of keep going deeper into the game and make those runs that they gave me early hold up," McCarthy said. "Just kind of one of those days where youre working for everything you get. Nothing really comes easy." ELLSBURY DOES IT ALL: Ellsbury went 1 for 4 and is hitting .359 with 13 RBIs in his last 18 games. Ellsbury also saved at least two hits in centre: He ran down a potential RBI extra-base hit by Josh Willingham in the gap in the fourth and caught Gordons sinking liner in the eighth. "Hes a tremendous centre fielder," Girardi said. 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Marian Gaborik had two goals and an assist and Martin Jones made just 17 saves to record his fourth shutout of the season as the Kings snapped a three-game losing skid with a 3-0 victory over the lowly Oilers on Thursday.NEW YORK – As the Blue Jays venture into Yankee Stadium for an important three-game series with their foes in pinstripes, there are a number of storylines to latch on to before considering who will take the mound for Toronto on Tuesday night. Its the first-place Blue Jays against the team closest to them in the American League East. Toronto enters the series with a four-and-a-half game lead on the Yankees. Its another chance, the second of what will be as many as six, to wave goodbye to New Yorks future Hall of Fame shortstop, Derek Jeter. Here in New York, the dulcet voice of the late, great public address announcer, Bob Sheppard, brings No. 2 to the plate. Jose Reyes is back in New York, too. He made his name over in Queens playing for the Mets. R.A. Dickey is here but wont pitch. He won the Cy Young award two seasons ago on the other side of the city. Oh, and dont forget about the Blue Jays rookies mound opponent on this Tuesday: a rookie himself, technically, the Japanese phenom Masahiro Tanaka, whos dominated the early days of his major league career like he dominated for years back home. Then there is Marcus Stroman. Its strange that this, essentially a homecoming for a young man raised in the Long Island town of Medford, is somewhat lost in the shuffle. Hes the 23-year-old who stunned general manager Alex Anthopoulos, blowing his bubble gum in the middle of his windup. The kid seems born for the spotlight, even if it will shine more brightly on others. "Im usually pretty good with dealing with things like that," Stroman said on Sunday. "I dont let anything get to me or get me overly excited or kind of get me out of my game. Im fine. Im in a good place mentally. I feel good going into it. I have kind of an off-day just to hang out with friends in the city and then it will be Game on Tuesday." Medford is a sleepy town, according to Stroman, more than an hour from New York City. Its closer to the upscale Hamptons, a drive of about 45 minutes. Medford has one high school, Patchoggue-Medford High School, which Stroman attended before moving on to college at Duke University.dddddddddddd The town will awaken this evening. Many of its inhabitants, in fact, will venture to Yankee Stadium to watch the hometown boy pitch. Stroman has purchased up to 70 tickets for close family and friends. He said hes been told by another 50 or 60 people theyve bought ducats. Hell have a throng of about 130 people here rooting him on. "Anytime you have an opportunity to pitch in front of a bunch of family and friends, its exciting," said Stroman. "I should have a lot of – a bunch of people texting me, bunch of friends from high school, college, a lot of people reaching out to me saying theyre going to be at the game so thats always exciting to pitch in front of people whove been there along the way." Stroman is 3-1 in his first year in the big leagues, 2-1 as a starter. Hes gone six innings in each of his first three starts, losing his last outing against the Twins. In two of those appearances, including the Minnesota defeat, he didnt walk a batter. He has impressed with his fastball. His breaking stuff, particularly his curveball, has baffled opposing hitters. Hes developing his changeup. Hes not developing confidence. He already has it. His coaches brag about it. "I certainly dont see him as a guy whos going to nibble and pitch around guys," said pitching coach Pete Walker. "Hes definitely on the attack. His walks have been down and I would like to think that thats going to continue with him. He certainly trusts his stuff. Theres no doubt about that." Growing up, Stroman went to Yankees games at the old stadium and saw the Mets at Shea. He didnt cheer for either team. He admired players. Like most native New Yorkers, he watched Jeter in awe. On Tuesday night, hell pitch to Jeter. He doesnt know what to expect. "I cant even tell you," said Stroman. "Im sure itll settle in once Im kind of on the mound but Im pretty sure it will be surreal." ' ' '