By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com KANSAS CITY -- Bryan Bullington delivered eight magnificent innings to log his first Major League victory as the Yankees were defeated by the Royals, 1-0, on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium. Assigned his first career appearance against the Yankees, Bullington cruised through facing the minimum over seven innings, retiring 13 straight hitters before allowing his first hit. Robinson Cano logged the Yankees' first hit with a ground single through the right side, but he was promptly erased as Lance Berkman hit into a 3-6-1 double play, landing awkwardly down the right-field line after his right foot made contact with Bullington while crossing the first-base bag. New York also had a baserunner in the sixth inning as Brett Gardner singled to left, but Gardner was gunned down attempting to steal second base by Brayan Pena. The Yankees were unable to muster anything further, facing closer Joakim Soria in the ninth inning and settling for a four-game series split in Kansas City. Bullington had started his career 0-7 with a 5.02 ERA, also pitching for the Pirates, Indians and Blue Jays. A.J. Burnett settled down after a shaky opening frame to provide the Yankees with a decent effort. Kansas City touched the right-hander for a run in the first inning as Willie Bloomquist stroked a one-out single, stole second base and advanced to third on Cervelli's throwing error before scoring on a Billy Butler RBI hit. Burnett worked out of trouble in the second inning by inducing a key double-play ball on Pena before finding his groove, holding the Royals scoreless the rest of the way. The Yankees exhibited some sloppy defense in the sixth behind Burnett, as Cano threw wildly to first base attempting to double off Gregor Blanco and Cervelli fired the ball into center field on the same play, but Burnett was able to end the inning without a run scoring.
