Royals Secure Dramatic Win Over Yankees
Maikel Garcia's game-ending two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes enabled the Kansas City Royals to edge out New York 4-3, avoiding a four-game sweep.
Marsh's No-Hit Bid
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh delivered an impressive performance, carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against the Yankees. Marsh allowed a leadoff single to Juan Soto in the seventh but managed to retire the next three batters to cap off his 96-pitch outing. "I thought we had a good game plan going in," Marsh said, reflecting on his performance. "Me and [catcher Freddy Fermin] were on the same page all day. I just felt comfortable out there."
Yankees' Comeback Attempt
The Yankees, who had dominated the first three games of the series, mounted a comeback against reliever John Schreiber in the eighth inning. Anthony Rizzo brought New York within one run with a homer. A critical error by second baseman Garrett Hampson set the stage for Anthony Volpe's RBI grounder, giving the Yankees a 3-2 lead after Angel Zerpa surrendered an RBI single to Soto.
Ninth Inning Heroics
However, the Royals were not done. Drew Waters hit an infield single in the ninth inning against Holmes. Following a fielder's choice, Kyle Isbel singled to bring up Garcia, who delivered a liner down the left-field line, scoring MJ Melendez and Isbel. This dramatic hit won the game for Kansas City.
James McArthur secured the win for the Royals by pitching a scoreless ninth inning. The victory allowed the Royals to snap their four-game losing streak and maintain their position in second place in the AL Central.
"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."
Strong Performances
Nestor Cortes delivered a notable performance for the Yankees, allowing just two runs over seven innings and lowering his road ERA to 5.57 from 6.17. "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."
Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the fourth inning, eventually scoring on Vinnie Pasquantino's two-run double. Despite a promising start, the Royals' sixth inning threat was cut short when Witt was caught stealing following a pickoff throw by Cortes.
In a moment of controversy, Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected for arguing obstruction by Gleyber Torres. However, Quatraro's ejection did little to diminish the spirit and resilience of his team. "Quatraro told me he didn't even know I had a no-hitter going," Marsh said. "I responded, 'Don't get tossed next time.'" Despite his ejection, Quatraro’s belief in his players remained unwavering.
Moving Forward
The Royals hope to build on this victory as they move forward in the season. The team demonstrated determination and skill, showcasing young talents like Marsh and Garcia, alongside the consistent performance of veterans like Witt Jr.
For the Yankees, it's a time for reflection and regrouping. Despite strong individual performances, the team fell short in executing a complete game strategy. With players like Cortes showing improvement, the Yankees have the pieces in place to recover from this loss.
As the season progresses, both teams will need to harness the lessons learned from this closely contested series. For now, the Royals can celebrate a dramatic win, while the Yankees must regather their efforts for future success.