Royals lead way with three-headed bullpen

NEW YORK — The Royals returned to New York on Monday night for the first time since beating the Mets last October to win the World Series.

They were playing a different team in a different stadium. And like the Yankees, times are tough right now for the defending World Series champions, who dropped a 6-3 decision at Yankee Stadium to open a four-game series.

“We’re walking around the streets and it’s the same hotel we stayed in during the World Series, so it did bring it back a little bit,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “The memories would be a little bit better if we were playing a little bit better. Right now, we’re just trying to get this thing turned around.”

It may be just a coincidence then that the team, which has thrived the last two seasons on a three-headed bullpen came to town on the night the Yankess’ Aroldis Chapman was activated and spit a series of 100-mph-plus fastballs when he pitched the ninth. His last four pitches in striking out lead-off hitter Omar Infante were 100-mph or better.

“We’re all watching the board,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “That 101, it’s not something you see every day.”

After Chapman’s season-opening domestic abuse suspension, the New York ‘pen is lined up for the first time in the same fashion as Kansas City behind Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances.

The Royals went to the last pitch of their 2014 World Series loss in seven games to the Giants, riding Kelvin Herrera in the seventh inning, Wade Davis in the eighth and Greg Holland in the ninth.

Last season, after Holland injured his right elbow, Davis moved to the …

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