Yankees 10, Royals 4: Robinson Cano belted a grand slam during a six-run third inning as New York earned a split of the four-game series.

Nick Swisher and Alex Rodriguez also homered for the Yankees, who scored a total of 10 runs over the first three games of the series.

The Royals took an early lead as Billy Butler delivered an RBI double in the first inning. Raul Ibanez answered with a run-scoring base hit in the second before New York exploded for six runs in the third.

Curtis Granderson began the onslaught with an RBI single and Cano made it 6-1 two batters later with his eighth career grand slam off Luke Hochevar (2-3). With one swing of the bat, Cano doubled his RBI total for the season.

Back in the lineup after missing six games with a strained hamstring, Swisher followed with his seventh homer, capping the rally. Rodriguez put the game away with a three-run blast in the eighth.

Phil Hughes (2-4) allowed three runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings, his longest outing of the season. The right-hander walked one and struck out seven.

Hochevar was tagged for seven runs in just 2 1/3 frames. He has yielded 16 runs in 6 1/3 innings over his last two starts.

Humberto Quintero homered and Irving Falu recorded two hits in his major-league debut for the Royals, who fell to 2-12 at home.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Granderson's RBI single in the third inning was his 1,000th career hit ... Two of Cano's eight career grand slams have come against Hochevar ... Hochevar has allowed 17 runs over 17 1/3 innings in four career games against New York.