Royals Stun Yankees with Late-Game Heroics to Avoid Sweep
In a thrilling conclusion to their series, the Kansas City Royals edged out the New York Yankees 4-3, thanks to Maikel Garcia's game-ending two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes. This victory allowed the Royals to avoid a four-game sweep and provided a much-needed boost to a team looking to build momentum.
Avoiding the sweep was no small feat, especially given how the Yankees had dominated the first three games of the series. The Royals' resilience was on full display at Kauffman Stadium, where rookie pitcher Alec Marsh nearly achieved a historic milestone.
Alec Marsh Shines on the Mound
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning, showcasing his poise and potential against a formidable Yankees lineup. Marsh allowed a leadoff single to Juan Soto in the seventh inning but quickly composed himself to retire the next three batters, ending his 96-pitch outing in impressive fashion.
Marsh’s remarkable performance set the tone for the Royals, but the Yankees did not go down without a fight. They mounted a comeback against reliever John Schreiber in the eighth inning, initiated by Anthony Rizzo’s homer that brought New York within one run.
Yankees Rally Cut Short
A critical error by second baseman Garrett Hampson set the stage for Anthony Volpe's RBI grounder, allowing the Yankees to take a 3-2 lead after Angel Zerpa surrendered an RBI single to Soto. However, the Royals' bullpen managed to stifle any further scoring opportunities.
In the ninth inning, Drew Waters hit an infield single against Holmes, setting the stage for the dramatic finish. Following a fielder's choice, Kyle Isbel singled to bring up Maikel Garcia, who delivered a liner down the left-field line, scoring MJ Melendez and Isbel to clinch the victory.
James McArthur Closes the Door
James McArthur secured the win for Kansas City by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, a testament to the depth and resilience of the Royals' pitching staff. This victory snapped the Royals' four-game losing streak and reaffirmed their second-place standing in the AL Central.
Key Performances
Nestor Cortes of the Yankees allowed two runs over seven innings, lowering his road ERA from 6.17 to 5.57. Cortes was effective, but the Yankees' bullpen couldn't hold the lead against a determined Royals squad.
Bobby Witt Jr. continued his hot streak, extending his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the fourth inning. Witt later scored on Vinnie Pasquantino's two-run double, further underscoring the importance of timely hitting in this tightly contested game.
One pivotal moment in the Royals' sixth inning saw Witt caught stealing following a pickoff throw by Cortes, which momentarily halted their momentum. Additionally, Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected for arguing obstruction by Gleyber Torres, adding another layer of drama to an already intense game.
Quotes and Reflections
Reflecting on the game, Alec Marsh gave credit to his catcher, Freddy Fermin. "I thought we had a good game plan going in," said Marsh. "Me and [catcher Freddy Fermin] were on the same page all day. I just felt comfortable out there."
Royals manager Matt Quatraro was full of praise for his team's resilience. "I couldn't be more proud of those guys," Quatraro said. "You're down. That's a really good club with an elite closer coming in. The way they hustle, the way they never quit, it's inspiring for me to come to work every day to be around these guys."
Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the strong pitching performances on both sides. "I thought Nestor was good," commented Boone. "It was a good pitchers' duel. His fastball was playing up. He was at 90, 91, 92, but it had something on it. He had a presence on both sides. I thought he did a good job, like Marsh, of mixing things up to give us seven strong innings."
Marsh shared a light-hearted anecdote about his no-hit bid. "Quatraro told me he didn't even know I had a no-hitter going," Marsh said. "I responded, 'Don't get tossed next time.’"
The Royals hope to build on this victory, while the Yankees need to regroup and address the issues that allowed Kansas City to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Both teams displayed moments of brilliance, but it was the Royals who came away with a morale-boosting win.