KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After enduring the embarrassment of failing to go deep in the Home Run Derby, and the near-constant jeering from fans of the Kansas City Royals, Robinson Cano finally hit one into the seats at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday. It proved to be important, too. The two-run shot by the Yankees second baseman gave his team the lead in the third inning, and that was just about all the offence Hiroki Kuroda needed on the mound. He pitched into the eighth inning as New York beat Kansas City 4-2 to finish off a three-game sweep. "This ballpark is big," Cano said. "I mean, this is a tough place to hit home runs." Cano, of course, was captain of the AL squad for last years derby in Kansas City, and had said he would choose the Royals Billy Butler for his team. But he went back on his word, and was booed lustily by the home crowd while failing to hit a single home run himself. The jeers continued during the All-Star game, and didnt let up when the Yankees returned to town for their only visit this season -- at least, until Cano finally went deep. "Hes just a really good hitter," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Thats probably the best way to say it. Hes just a really good hitter." Lest he need any advice on going deep in Kansas City, he might try asking Vernon Wells. The Yankees outfielder homered for the second straight game on Sunday, helping to pace a New York offence that scored just enough for Kuroda (5-2) to win for the fifth time in six decisions. He allowed only a sacrifice fly by the Royals Alex Gordon and an RBI groundout by Alcides Escobar over 7 2-3 innings. The right-hander at one point went 15 batters without allowing a hit, and was so fired up that he argued with plate umpire Laz Diaz over a call in the eighth inning. "I guess it was the heat of the moment," Kuroda said through a translator, without relaying exactly what he said to Diaz. "I was fired up. Its not something I would normally do." David Robertson retired Billy Butler to end the Royals eighth-inning rally, and Mariano Rivera worked around a leadoff single in the ninth to remain perfect in 15 save opportunities. Rivera has converted his last 29 chances against the Royals dating to Aug. 18, 1998, his longest active streak against any team. His only other blown save against them happened in 1996. "Its amazing. He just continues to do it," Girardi said. "Anyone who wants to argue hes not the greatest closer of all time, I dont know who it is." Ervin Santana (3-2) gave up Canos two-run shot in the third inning, Wells solo homer two pitches later and an RBI single by Wells in the fifth. He departed with one out in the sixth and with the Royals well on their way to their sixth loss in their last seven games. "I didnt have my best stuff today, but I just tried to keep my team in the ballgame," he said. "Just a couple of pitches. Thats how it is against the Yankees." Santana, who hadnt lost since his season debut April 3 at the White Sox, began his career 5-1 against the boys in pinstripes. Hes now 0-6 in his last nine starts against them. The Royals struck first when Jarrod Dyson doubled leading off the game. He advanced to third on a bunt by Escobar and then scored on Gordons sacrifice fly. That was all theyd get off Kuroda until the eighth inning. New York pulled ahead in the third when Chris Stewart singled and Cano pounded the first pitch he saw over the bullpen in right field. It was his sixth career homer off Santana, two more than the All-Star second baseman has had against any other pitcher. It was especially gratifying given his history at the K. Cano was the captain of the AL squad for last years Home Run Derby in Kansas City, and had said he would choose Butler for his team. But he went back on his word, and was booed lustily by the Royals home crowd while failing to hit a single home run himself. The jeers continued during the All-Star game, and didnt let up when the Yankees returned to town for their only visit this season -- at least, until Cano finally went deep. Wells, who hit the go-ahead two-run homer on Saturday, followed with a solo shot, and then drove in Brett Gardner with a single down the third-base line in the fifth inning. That was enough to ensure the Royals would be swept for the first time this season. "I dont know the reasoning behind it," Royals manager Ned Yost said, "but youre just one hit away from opening up the flood gates. Sometimes that one hit in a crucial situation just relaxes everybody and all of a sudden you go on an offensive tear for a weak or 10 days. So we just wait for that to happen." NOTES: The Yankees put INF Eduardo Nunez on the 15-day DL, selected SS Alberto Gonzalez from Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre and put 1B Mark Teixeira on the 60-day DL. ... Royals GM Dayton Moore and Hall of Famer George Brett honoured Rivera prior to the game with a donation to the church where his wife, Clara, is the pastor. Rivera intends to retire after the season. ... RHP Luis Mendoza will start Monday for the Royals at the Angels. The Yankees head to Cleveland for a doubleheader with RHP David Phelps on the mound in Game 1 and LHP Vidal Nuno starting Game 2. Balenciaga Mens Shoes Australia . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. Balenciaga Shoes Wholesale .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. http://www.cheapbalenciagaaustralia.com/ . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Cheap Balenciaga Australia . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. Cheap Balenciaga Shoes Australia . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. Alabama reserve defensive back Maurice Smith said Monday that hes willing to go as far as it takes in his ongoing battle with the Crimson Tide, who have blocked his request to join SEC rival Georgia as a graduate transfer.In an interview with AL.com, Smith made his first public comments about his battle with the school, saying?hes determined to see the process through because he believes it is bigger than me.I believe that this will not only help me but help anyone else who comes into my situation in the future, Smith, a senior who graduated from Alabama in three years, said in the interview. Thats why I say its almost bigger than me because not only am I stepping out on faith but Im trying to get a point across that if you do everything right you should be awarded what is better for you or best for you if thats something you choose to do.Theres really not a deadline. Im willing to go as far as it takes to play the season at the school that I desire, which is Georgia.In mid-June, AL.com reported that Smith was seeking to leave Alabama as a graduate transfer, which would make him eligible to play immediately at another school.Saban addressed the issue last week, citing an SEC rule that restricts players from transferring to another SEC school, except under unique circumstances.I know theres a lot of talk out there and interest in the Maurice Smith deal, Saban said. Nothing has changed. We support the SEC rule of not granting guys release to go to other SEC schools. It has been our policy here not to do that unless there was a special circumstance.Saban also said Smith had opportunities to go to schools outside the SEC, but that hhe and the staff had told Smith he would be a significant contributor this season if he stayed.dddddddddddd. Alabama opened camp last Wednesday.We have told him, Because we support the SEC rule, it would not be in your best interest to have to sit out. If you want to go someplace else [outside the SEC], wed be glad to help you do that, Saban said.In the AL.com interview, Smith expressed disappointment that what he felt was going to be a simple transfer has transpired into something far greater.Theres a lot of adversity thats been thrown at me, the university, coach [Nick] Saban, and its really making it something that its really not, Smith said to AL.com. I believe it was something that was just as simple as a transfer. But now its kind of transpired into something far greater, and a lot of bad things have been coming out of this. Its just very disappointing because I never meant to hurt anyone. ... I just feel like Ive earned the right to better myself my last year and go into this season without any doubts.Honestly, its not what everyone is making it out to be. Its not personal. I feel like its whats best for me for my senior year. And this is a hard decision, of course, because I have so much love for all my teammates and all of the staff and everyone for the university, especially all of the love that theyve shown me over these last three years. And its really a business decision. Its not meant to cause any hurt or harm to the university, to the coaches or to make anyone look bad appearance-wise. ' ' '