KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bryan Bullington, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2002, threw eight crisp innings for his major league win, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 1-0 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday.
Bullington (1-2) allowed two hits, walked one and struck out five to outpitch A.J. Burnett (9-10) who yielded four hits and one run in eight innings. Joakim Soria finished the two-hitter, extending his club record with his 26th consecutive save.
Alex Rodriguez, who homered in his final three at-bats Saturday night, slammed a Bullington pitch to deep center leading off the second inning, driving Gregor Blanco almost to the wall. But A-Rod went down quietly the rest of the way.
One day after everyone in the New York lineup got at least one hit in an 8-3 victory, the Yankees, facing a pitcher they'd never seen, were shut out for the sixth time.
Robinson Cano grounded a single into right field with one out in the fifth to become the first Yankees baserunner, and was erased on a 3-6-1 double play. Brett Gardner singled with one out in the sixth but was thrown out trying to steal.
The only other baserunner allowed by the 29-year-old Bullington was Marcus Thames, who walked with one out in the eighth while batting for designated hitter Lance Berkman. Berkman stumbled going across the bag in the fifth inning and walked gingerly off the field.
Soria pitched a perfect ninth and has 33 saves in 35 chances.
Burnett was almost as effective as Bullington, striking out six and walking three. After allowing Billy Butler's RBI single in the first, the veteran right-hander did not allow another hit until Blanco singled leading of the sixth.
One out later, Butler lined sharply to second baseman Cano. He threw to first to try to double off Blanco, but the ball sailed wide and Blanco took off for second. As he slid into the bag, catcher Francisco Cervelli's throw went wild into center, allowing Blanco to go to third on the second error on the play. But Burnett struck out Wilson Betemit to end the inning.
The Royals got a run in the first when Willie Bloomquist singled, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by Cervelli before Butler's hit.
Bullington, selected by Pittsburgh in the draft, was making his 20th major league appearance and seventh career start.
Picked up by the Royals as a minor league free agent last November, Bullington was called up from Triple-A Omaha on May 17 and took a loss in Baltimore the next day in relief. He made one more relief appearance before being optioned back to Omaha on May 25. He was recalled on July 28.
He also was the loser in a 3-1 setback to the Angels in his first start on Aug. 10.
Notes
Royals RHP Gil Meche might make a rehab start soon, still hoping to return in September as a reliever. Manager Ned Yost said Meche, on the DL since May 29 with right shoulder bursitis, might also be a bullpen candidate next year. … Yankees LHP Andy Pettitte will try to go through a pitch-and-catch progression Tuesday and if that goes well, possibly pitch in a simulated game on Friday. … The Yankees are in a stretch where they play 35 games in 36 days.