NEW YORK — Right-hander Homer Bailey showed on Thursday night that he could be a candidate for American League Comeback Player of the Year. He pitched six solid innings and helped the Royals defeat the Yankees, 6-1, at Yankee Stadium.

The Royals have won five of their last seven games and improved their record to 7-12.

Bailey kept the Yankees off balance with his four-seam fastball, slider and cutter. In those six innings, Bailey allowed three hits, and two them came in the first inning, when the Yankees scored their only run on a sacrifice fly by Gleyber Torres. The next and last hit off Bailey didn’t come until the fourth inning, when Clint Frazier singled to center field.

It was Bailey’s second straight quality start. This past Saturday, he blanked the Indians for seven innings.

This is the same Homer Bailey who had problems getting people out and staying healthy last year. Bailey, who went 1-14 with a 6.09 ERA in 20 starts for the Reds last year, already surpassed that win total, thanks to the five runs the Royals put up on Thursday. Jorge Soler and Ryan O’Hearn highlighted the scoring with solo home runs.