Alex Gordon hit a three-run homer and Bruce Chen won his third straight start as the Kansas City Royals averted a three-game sweep with a 5-4 victory over the visiting New York Yankees on Wednesday.

Billy Butler also homered for the Royals, who snapped New York's three-game winning streak and halted their own skid at four games.

Chen (8-5) allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings in beating the Yankees for the second time in 17 career appearances (12 starts).

Joakim Soria gave up a run in the ninth before nailing down his 22nd save when he struck out Jorge Posada with the bases loaded.

Gordon had the big blow off Bartolo Colon to spark a four-run third. It was his first homer of the month and tripled his RBI total in August.

Curtis Granderson homered and doubled, and Derek Jeter had four hits for New York, who remained one-half game ahead of Boston atop the American League East.

Colon (8-7) was tagged for five runs on seven hits in five innings to fall to 15-9 lifetime against the Yankees.