Luke Voit's two-run single in the first inning gave the Yankees a lead they would not relinquish as New York defeated the host Kansas City Royals 5-2 on Wednesday to claim the three-game series.

The Yankees won their 11th straight series over the Royals and also claimed the season series, four games to two.

Four Yankees had multiple hits.

It was the third straight game with temperatures in the 90s and heat indices in the low 100s.

Chad Green (6-5) got the win in relief. Zack Britton got his first save of the season.

Brady Singer (3-8) took the loss. He allowed five runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Yankees starter Lucas Luetge made his first career start after making 152 career appearances as a reliever, allowing one run on two hits in two innings. Luetge was just the sixth Yankee to start a game after making his first 152 appearances out of the bullpen, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

The Yankees scored three runs on three hits and two walks in the first inning. Voit had a two-run single with the bases full. Rougned Odor followed with an RBI single.

Whit Merrifield led off the bottom of the first with a single, then notched his major league-leading 33rd stolen base and his 33rd straight successful steal, tying the club record (Carlos Beltran, 1999-2001).

He went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by Salvador Perez. Merrifield was later caught stealing in the seventh inning when he over-slid second, his first failed attempt all season.

The Yankees extended the lead in the fourth. Tyler Wade led off with a double and stole third. He scored on a single by DJ LeMahieu. Aaron Judge's RBI single scored LeMahieu and chased Singer.

The Royals plated a run in the fifth. Cam Gallagher led off with a double and went to third on a flyout. He scored on Nicky Lopez's slow roller to Yankees shortstop Andrew Velazquez, who bobbled the ball and was assessed an error.

Prior to Wednesday's game, the Yankees placed RHP Clay Holmes on the COVID-19 injured list, pending the results of a test.

--Field Level Media