Royals Stun Yankees with Late-Inning Heroics
In a thrilling conclusion at Yankee Stadium, Maikel Garcia delivered a game-ending two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes, enabling the Kansas City Royals to edge out New York 4-3. With this victory, the Royals managed to avoid a four-game sweep, snapping their four-game losing streak and holding onto second place in the AL Central.
Marsh's Stellar Performance
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh was the star of the show for much of the game, carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning. Marsh displayed remarkable control and composure, allowing only a leadoff single to Juan Soto in the seventh. He retired the next three batters to wrap up his 96-pitch outing.
"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."
Despite Marsh's efforts, the Yankees mounted a comeback against reliever John Schreiber in the eighth inning. Anthony Rizzo brought New York within one run with a homer, and a critical error by second baseman Garrett Hampson set the stage for Anthony Volpe's RBI grounder. The Yankees took a 3-2 lead after Angel Zerpa surrendered an RBI single to Soto.
Ninth-Inning Drama
The ninth inning saw the Royals fighting tooth and nail for the win. Drew Waters hit an infield single against Holmes, and after a fielder's choice, Kyle Isbel singled to bring up Garcia. Garcia didn't disappoint, delivering a liner down the left-field line that scored MJ Melendez and Isbel, securing a dramatic 4-3 victory for Kansas City.
"I couldn't be more proud of those guys," said Royals manager Matt Quatraro. "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."
James McArthur clinched the win for the Royals by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, ensuring that the team could savor a hard-fought and well-deserved victory.
Yankees' Mixed Performances
Nestor Cortes had a strong outing for the Yankees, allowing just two runs over seven innings. Cortes impressed by lowering his road ERA from 6.17 to 5.57, illustrating his ability to perform under pressure.
"I thought Nestor was good," commented Yankees manager Aaron 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."
Despite Cortes' efforts, the Yankees couldn't hold onto their lead. The ninth-inning collapse adds to a series of frustrating performances for a team that had dominated the first three games of the series but couldn't seal the sweep.
Key Moments
Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the fourth inning. Witt also scored on Vinnie Pasquantino's two-run double, contributing to the Royals' offensive push. However, their sixth-inning threat was cut short when Witt was caught stealing following a pickoff throw by Cortes.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected for arguing an obstruction call against Gleyber Torres, adding a layer of drama to an already tense game. "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 as they move forward in the season, while the Yankees need to regroup and address their inconsistencies. The resilience displayed by Kansas City could be a catalyst for future success, while New York must find a way to bounce back from this disappointing loss.