Aaron Hicks lofted the tiebreaking sacrifice fly to cap an eighth-inning comeback Saturday night for the New York Yankees, who salvaged a split of a doubleheader with the Kansas City Royals by earning a 5-4 win in the second game at Yankee Stadium.

With the win, the Yankees stayed within 5 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East. New York is on pace for 104 wins.

The Royals, who are on a 112-loss pace, won the opener, 10-5.

The doubleheader was necessitated by a rainout Friday night.

The Royals put themselves in position to earn a sweep by scoring single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to take a 4-3 lead. But Greg Bird tied the game with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the eighth against Brian Flynn (2-2), who then gave up a double to Neil Walker.

Glenn Sparkman entered and allowed a bunt single to Austin Romine before walking pinch hitter Gleyber Torres to load the bases. Walker then scored easily on Hicks' fly ball to left field.

The rally made a winner out of Dellin Betances (2-3), who allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth. Aroldis Chapman allowed a hit and a walk but struck out two in the ninth to earn his 27th save.

Miguel Andujar (single) and Walker (sacrifice fly) had RBIs in the first inning, while Shane Robinson homered in the fourth inning for the Yankees. Walker was the only New York player with multiple hits in the nightcap and finished 5-for-7 in the doubleheader.

Salvador Perez hit a solo homer in the third for the Royals, who overcame a 3-1 deficit thanks to a bases-loaded walk by Lucas Duda in the fifth, an RBI single by Rosell Herrera in the sixth and a bases-loaded walk by Drew Butera in the seventh. Herrera had three hits in the second game and went 5-for-9 in the doubleheader.

Yankees starter CC Sabathia allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out eight over 4 2/3 innings. The Royals' Heath Fillmyer, making his third big league start, allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two over five innings.

--Field Level Media