Royals Edge Yankees in Thrilling Finish
Maikel Garcia delivered a dramatic two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes, propelling the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 victory over New York. This clutch hit helped the Royals avoid a four-game sweep and snapped their four-game losing streak. The victory couldn't have come at a better time for Kansas City, who currently hold second place in the AL Central.
Marsh’s Stellar Outing
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh was sensational, carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against the formidable Yankees lineup. It wasn't until Juan Soto's leadoff single in the seventh that Marsh's no-hit aspirations were dashed. Marsh then retired the next three batters, concluding his impressive 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."
Royals manager Matt Quatraro was full of praise for his young pitcher and the entire team. "I couldn't be more proud of those guys," said 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."
Yankees’ Rally Falls Short
Although Marsh kept the Yankees at bay, New York mounted a late comeback against reliever John Schreiber in the eighth inning. Anthony Rizzo brought the Yankees within one run with a solo homer. A critical error by Royals second baseman Garrett Hampson then 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.
Game-Winning Moment
The ninth inning proved pivotal for the Royals. Drew Waters hit an infield single against Holmes, and following a fielder's choice, Kyle Isbel singled, bringing up Maikel Garcia. Garcia delivered a liner down the left-field line, scoring MJ Melendez and Isbel to give Kansas City the lead. James McArthur then secured the win for the Royals by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
Cortes’ Solid Performance
Nestor Cortes had a solid outing for the Yankees, allowing 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."
Other Highlights
Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the fourth inning. Witt later scored on Vinnie Pasquantino's two-run double. However, the Royals' sixth inning threat was cut short when Witt was caught stealing following a pickoff throw by Cortes. This incident led to Royals manager Matt Quatraro being ejected for arguing obstruction by Gleyber Torres.
"Quatraro told me he didn't even know I had a no-hitter going," Marsh said with a smile. "I responded, 'Don't get tossed next time.'"
Looking Forward
The Royals hope to build on this victory and carry the momentum forward as they look to make a push in the AL Central standings. The Yankees, on the other hand, need to regroup and address the issues that allowed the game to slip away.
It's always a battle when these two clubs meet, and this game was no exception. With strong performances on both sides and a dramatic finish, fans were treated to a thrilling contest that showcased the unpredictability and excitement of Major League Baseball.