Alex Rodriguez passes Gehrig on all-time RBI list, Yankees sweep Royals

Alex Rodriguez passes Gehrig on all-time RBI list, Yankees sweep Royals

Alex Rodriguez passes Lou Gehrig for sole possession of fourth place
 on the all-time RBI list.(Photo: Noah K. Murray, USA TODAY Sports)

NEW YORK -- The only thing Yankees manager Joe Girardi focused on in regards to pitcher Michael Pineda being successful before Wednesday’s game against Kansas City Royals was that the right-hander’s slider had to be on.

“When I look at the last two starts, (Pineda) really hasn’t had a very good (slider), and that’s a key pitch for him,” he said. “I think it’s important to get that back.”

In the top of the first inning, Royals first baseman Mike Moustakas crushed a poorly-thrown slider into the second deck of right field that tailed foul. The next pitch, Moustakas sent another weak slider into the bleachers for a solo home run.