Royals ace Seth Lugo went seven innings Monday night against the Yankees, but the offense didn’t follow as Kansas City fell 4-2 at Kauffman Stadium.

Lugo allowed four runs on eight hits, with the Yankees scoring on a single and sacrifice bunt in the first and two runs off a single in the fourth. It was the second straight start Lugo allowed more than three earned runs.

However, the Royals offense struggled against the Yankees, striking out eight times and going two-for-seven with runners in scoring position. Freddy Fermin singled the Royals’ first run of the game in the bottom of the seventh, while Bobby Witt Jr’s double in the eighth brought in the other run.

The Royals are 39-28, 4.5 games behind an idle Cleveland in the AL Central. Game Two of the Royals’ homestand against the AL East-leading Yankees is tonight, with first pitch at 7:10 p.m. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30 on KMMO.