Yankees 8, Royals 4: Captain Derek Jeter had one hit with an RBI and a run scored in his season debut as host New York erased an early three-run deficit to salvage a split of the four-game series.

Andy Pettitte (7-6) overcame a wobbly first inning and won his second straight start by giving up four runs - three earned - on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings to improve to 16-3 lifetime against Kansas City. The Yankees put up 16 runs in the last two games after scoring one each in their previous three contests.

Jeter, serving as designated hitter in his first game since he fractured his left ankle in the 2012 American League Championship Series, managed to have an impact despite not getting the ball out of the infield in four at-bats. He singled on the first pitch he saw and scored New York's first run and had an RBI groundout in the sixth inning before exiting with tightness in his right quadriceps. He is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam.

Lyle Overbay delivered a two-run single in a four-run fifth inning and Zoilo Almonte and Eduardo Núñez each had a pair of hits and an RBI as the Yankees roughed up Royals starter Ervin Santana (5-6) for eight runs on 10 hits in five-plus innings. Six of New York's eight runs came after two were out, including consecutive RBI singles by Overbay, Almonte and Nunez in the fifth.

Kansas City appeared bent on spoiling Jeter's return when Salvador Perez delivered a two-RBI double in a three-run first and Alcides Escobar added a run-scoring single in the second for a 4-1 lead. David Lough collected three hits for the Royals, who were denied in their bid for their second series win at Yankee Stadium since 2000.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Jeter moved within eight hits of Eddie Collins (3,313) for ninth place on the all-time list and his season debut marked his 19th year with the Yankees, tying closer Mariano Rivera for the most in franchise history. ... Santana failed to get through six innings for the first time this season and fell to 0-7 in his last 10 starts against New York. ... CF Brett Gardner (shin) and DH Travis Hafner (left foot) were not in the starting lineup and 1B Travis Ishikawa was released by the Yankees, who will host Minnesota in a three-game series starting Friday night. Kansas City will head to Cleveland for a three-game set.