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The Royals, losers of 100 games last season, won another. Royals are fifth in the AL in runs (they were 10th last season) behind five-tool talent Carlos Beltran (who missed last night's game with a hyperextended left elbow), steady Raul Ibanez and rookie shortstop Angel Berroa.

Last night, eleven of Kansas City's 14 hits were doubles, which set a club record. The clubs combined for an American League record 19 doubles. In the end, the Royals had a 12-9 comeback victory before 40,406 at Kauffman Stadium, the largest of the season . The Royals (63-54) have now won three in a row after a couple of gloomy losses at Tampa Bay last week had some critics concluding they had run out of steam. With 45 games remaining, the Royals already have one more win than they had all last year.

While the hitters were taking most of the bows, two Kansas City relievers came up big in the series opener. Rookie D.J. Carrasco delivered 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief after an ineffective debut by veteran right-hander Paul Abbott. And, after the New York closed within 8-7 in seventh, former Yankee Jason Grimsley settled things down until the Kansas City offense roared again with four runs in the eighth.

The Yankees had won seven straight and 19 of their previous 23 games at Kauffman Stadium before the loss. They out-hit the Royals 15-12 and scored a pair of runs in the ninth, which included doubles by Derek Jeter and Giambi, off rookie closer Mike MacDougal.

After winning the opener of a tight series against the Seattle Mariners, the Yankees have now lost three straight. However, the Red Sox lost again, so the Yankees' lead in the AL East remains three games

The Yankees play the Royals six times in the next 10 days.

After nagging signs of a sciatic nerve in his back flaring up over the last several starts, manager Joe Torre confirmed that Wells left because of his back and will fly to New York today to be examined by team physician Stuart Hershon. Wells' next start, scheduled for Saturday in Baltimore, is in doubt. It's not a big leap to think the 40-year-old's season, or even his career, could be in doubt, too. Jose Contreras made his second rehab start. Pitching for Class A Tampa, he threw 59 pitches in four innings, allowed four hits, two runs and three walks, and fanned five.

Tonight it will be Mike Mussina (12-6, 3.35) taking the mound against May (5-5, 3.65)

Both Sox Lose Ground

A bad day for socks. First, Pedro Martinez was outdueled in a duel for the AL wildcard by A's pitcher Tim Hudson (11-4), who struck out seven and walked just one in a masterful display of control and ground-ball pitching. He retired 15 of 16 in the middle innings and finished his sixth career shutout by retiring the final seven hitters. Martinez suffered his first loss in three months, as the host Oakland Athletics pulled even with Boston atop the AL wild-card race with a 4-0 victory over the Red Sox last night.

While the Royals were unexpectedly knocking off the Yankees, Bartolo Colon (10-10) saw his four-game win streak come to an end in a 10-8 defeat to the Anaheim Angels that left the Sox with one victory in their last 10 games at Edison Field. Entering Monday's game, Colon was 4-0 with a 1.14 ERA over his last four starts and had gone eight innings in each of his previous three starts. Over his last nine starts, Colon had a 2.98 ERA. The Angels had lost 8 of their last 9 games prior to last night. If there was a bigger likelihood of victory in the Major Leagues last night, it'd have been hard to find. But maybe Colon was a little too close to Mexico. The ace right-hander and native of Tijuana, Mexico, asked for 66 tickets to Monday's gameThe loss drops the White Sox to a game and a half behind the Royals. Don't look know but only a game behind, the Twins are now breathing down the White Sox backs as well.

Next up, Neal Cotts purchased by the Sox today and he will get dropped smack in the middle of a pennant race to take the mound against the defending World Series champion Anaheim Angels. Cotts led the Southern League with a 2.21 ERA and was fourth in strikeouts (131). He was 9-6 over 20 starts and gave up 62 hits in 1061/3 innings. He allowed 56 walks. He has never pitched a game above AA in his life. A dollop of pressure, anyone?

More Inexplicable Events: Dontrelle Pounded

The 21-year-old phenom faced seven Dodgers in the third and retired none, leaving the game last night after two-plus innings with a 7-2 deficit. "Not a marquee night for fantasy baseball." he opined.

Some evidence that perhaps the D Train is becoming Derailed; Willis saw his ERA in five second-half starts climb to 6.48. He ended the first half with a 2.08 ERA and a 9-1 record.

The seven earned runs last night were the most Willis (11-3) has allowed in 18 major league starts, eclipsing the six he surrendered four starts earlier against the Chicago Cubs after a long rain delay. His ERA soared from 2.56 to 3.10. He allowed six hits, including a 420-foot, three-run home run to Adrian Beltre. There were three walks, one off the career-worst Willis set in his second big-league start.

Worse still, they've lost two straight games and have had a chance to take the lead in the wild-card playoff race two consecutive days -- and lost both. The Phillies meanwhile, will open a series against the lowly Brewers tonight.

To recap: The Red Sox failed to cash in on the unexpected loss of the Yankees to the Royals and lost to the A's who have now tied them for the AL Wildcard. The unexpected Royals victory, combined with the unexpected loss of the White Sox with Bartolo Colon on the mound, give the Royals a one and a half game spread now. The Marlins, with Dontrelle Willis on the mound, lost and failed to gain ground on the idle Phillies.

Unexpected, the woes of the Major League playoff races.