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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Andy Pettitte finally stopped beating himself up long enough to look at video of his past couple of outings, subpar efforts by any stretch and certainly his own lofty standards. It turned out that all the 40-year-old left-hander needed to do was a make a couple of minor adjustments -- alter his arm angle ever so slightly, for one thing -- to get back on track. Pettitte pitched seven stellar innings Saturday night, and Vernon Wells hit a go-ahead two-run homer before making a long running catch for the final out, giving the New York Yankees a 3-2 win over the Kansas City Royals. Pettitte (4-2) allowed seven runs against Houston and only lasted five innings his last time out against Oakland. But he looked more like he did early in the season against the Royals, with a piercing cutter and pinpoint control that kept Kansas City at bay all night. "Whenever you get knocked around, its not a good feeling. You never want that doubt to creep in that youre not able to get it done," Pettitte said. "Hopefully I can continue to get sharper and sharper." Pettitte allowed only a run-scoring groundout by Lorenzo Cain and a solo homer by Billy Butler while improving to 15-3 in his career against the Royals. Kansas City hasnt beaten him in 14 starts dating to Sept. 4, 2000. "I really dont think hes forgotten how to pitch, forgotten how to throw a cutter or any of that," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I always say, when youre old or overweight -- and you dont want to be both -- and youre struggling, people are always going to be saying, Is something wrong? Is something wrong? Its baseball. Everyone struggles." Everyone except Mariano Rivera, it seems. After David Robertson struck out the side in the eighth, Rivera worked around a two-out double by Salvador Perez for his 14th save. But it wasnt without some tension: Mike Moustakas hit a liner to right that landed just foul, and then scorched a pitch into the left-centre field gap that Wells tracked down on the run to end the game. It was Riveras 14th save to start the season, and his 28th straight against the Royals. It came just over a year after he tore the ACL in his right knee while shagging balls in the Kauffman Stadium outfield during batting practice. "I think Mo said it best, as an athlete, you can get hurt anywhere," Girardi said. "It just happened to be here. ... Im sure it was good for him to get out there." James Shields (2-3) was hurt by a throwing error on Moustakas at third base in the second inning that resulted in the Yankees first run. He also gave up Wells two-run shot in the fifth, moments after Butlers home run had staked Kansas City to 2-1 lead. Shields wound up going eight innings for the third time in his last four outings, and each of those times hes failed to pick up the win. He dropped to 7-15 in his career against New York. "Youve got to pitch better," Shields said. "Thats it." It was the Royals fifth loss in six games. "Andy Pettitte threw the ball great," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Kept the ball down. Changes speeds. Hit his spots really well. We never mounted much of an attack." The bounces certainly seemed to be going the Yankees way most of the night. Travis Hafner hit a slow grounder toward first base in the fourth inning, and Shields and first baseman Eric Hosmer had trouble deciding who should grab it. Neither of them did until it was too late, and Hafner coasted across the bag for an infield single. Lyle Overbay hit another grounder in the sixth inning that Elliot Johnson fielded at second base, but only after shortstop Alcides Escobar bumped into him. The slight hiccup allowed Jayson Nix to reach second safely and Overbay to be safe at first. Meanwhile, a hard-hit ball by Moustakas leading off the seventh inning caromed off Pettittes glove and right to Robinson Cano. The Yankees second baseman made the soft toss to first, turning a potential base hit into an easy groundout. Cano had another rough night in Kansas City, though. The Yankees All-Star was booed mercilessly for the second straight night by Royals fans who no doubt still remember his decision to snub Butler for the AL squad during last years home run derby, which was hosted by the Royals as part of All-Star festivities. Cano went 0 for 4 and struck out looking in the seventh, arguing with plate umpire Mark Wegner over the third strike. First base coach Mick Kelleher got between them and Girardi also ran onto the field to make sure Cano wouldnt be tossed from the game. NOTES: The Yankees plan to use a pitcher to fill the 26th player on the roster for Mondays doubleheader at Cleveland. Girardi didnt know who it would be. ... Royals RF Jeff Francoeur was back in the starting lineup after having Friday night off. ... RHP Hiroki Kuroda (4-2) will pitch Sundays series finale for the Yankees against Kansas City RHP Ervin Santana (3-1).Mike Person Super Bowl Jersey . 4 Villanova with a 96-68 drubbing on Monday. Wragge hit 9-of-14 from behind the arc, matching Kyle Korvers school record for 3-pointers in a game set in 2003, as Creighton (16-3, 6-1 Big East broke a conference record with 21 treys in the rout. Adrian Colbert Super Bowl Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. http://www.thesf49ersshoponline.com/Youth-Roger-Craig-49ers-Jersey/ . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team. 49ers Super Bowl Jerseys . The 19-year-old Olsen played 34 games with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL this season. In that time, hes recorded 17 goals and 17 assists with 36 penalty minutes. Deion Sanders Super Bowl Jersey . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season.NEW YORK -- Nick Kyrgios said he would quit tennis if he won the US Open, but here he had to quit his third-round match with injury.This was meant to be Kyrgios big moment -- under the Saturday night lights and the new roof at ?Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Australian certainly started in spectacular fashion to take the first set against Illya Marchenko.In particular, one swashbuckling point at 2-2 in the second set had the crowd on its feet, as he dived to send a backspinning volley over the net. Kyrgios beat his chest as he drank in the applause; this looked like a man who has the natural talent to become one of the best players in the world, if not the best.But then the right hip flexor injury that he struggled with in his first two matches, which forced him to withdraw in Washington, resurfaced to ruin his plans of going into the second week here.I feel like Ive been hit by a bus, Kyrgios said to the chair umpire, before eventually retiring down 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.He later dejectedly trudged into his interview session at the Bud Collins Media Center, and looked and sounded just as downbeat as he had after being blown away by Andy Murray at Wimbledon. Here it was for different reasons, because he was confident of going even further despite Stan Wawrinka lying in wait the next round.Im pretty disappointed, he said. You know, a great opportunity. Hes [Marchenko] a solid player. Im sure hes going to do well next round. But obviously, yeah, its not great, is it?Its tough. I dont like to retire. Its probably like the second or third time Ive done it.dddddddddddd Its never easy, of course. Ive got a lot of belief in my game to still win matches when Im not feeling great.Its not great. Yeah, I mean, to be fair, my hip was bothering me my first two matches and I got through. I guess it was just a matter of time.After losing the second set, the trainer was called and the injury assessed. I dont want to play anymore, Kyrgios said.The trainer convinced him to go off court for treatment, but when Kyrgios returned, he looked a shell of the player he was in the first two rounds at Flushing Meadows and in the first set of this match.Seemingly unable to chase anything down, he finally conceded defeat after Marchenko wrapped up the third set.ESPN analyst John McEnroe, the seven-time Grand Slam champion, seemed to suggest the 21-year-old could have tried to continue.If you dont want to be out there, dont do it anymore, he said on commentary.Patrick McEnroe, also on commentary for ESPN, questioned whether Kyrgios injury was down to his lack of conditioning and preparation. Kyrgios, who has no coach, was also of that opinion.Its the whole year leading up to it with the whole schedule, he said. I got to take more time and be more diligent with gym and everything so this doesnt happen to me.My physio has been helping me all week. He did everything he could. Ive been trying to fix it all week.?Its almost just hard mentally to play with something like that. ' ' '