Royals Edge Out Yankees with Dramatic Late Win
In a thrilling finale, the Kansas City Royals edged out the New York Yankees 4-3 thanks to a game-ending two-run double by Maikel Garcia off Yankees closer Clay Holmes. The Royals managed to avoid a four-game sweep with this pivotal victory, providing a much-needed morale boost for the team.
Marsh Flirts with No-Hitter
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh delivered an exceptional performance, carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning. Marsh's strong outing set the tone for the Royals, as he navigated through the Yankees' lineup with precision and confidence. It wasn't until the seventh inning that Juan Soto broke up Marsh’s no-hit bid with a leadoff single. Marsh displayed resilience by retiring the next three batters to complete his 96-pitch masterpiece.
"I thought we had a good game plan going in," Marsh said. "Me and [catcher Freddy Fermin] were on the same page all day. I just felt comfortable out there."
Yankees' Rally Falls Short
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 narrowed the Royals' lead to 2-1 with a solo home run, and an error by Royals second baseman Garrett Hampson set the stage for Anthony Volpe's RBI grounder. The Yankees took a 3-2 lead when Angel Zerpa allowed an RBI single to Soto.
Pushing into the ninth, the Yankees looked poised to secure the win. However, the Royals had other plans. Drew Waters hit an infield single off Holmes, and following a fielder's choice, Kyle Isbel's single brought Garcia to the plate. Garcia delivered in the clutch, lining a double down the left-field line to score MJ Melendez and Isbel, sealing the win 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."
Closing It Out
James McArthur clinched the win for the Royals by pitching a scoreless ninth inning. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak for Kansas City and held them in second place in the AL Central.
Nestor Cortes, the Yankees' starting pitcher, also had a commendable performance, allowing just two runs over seven innings. Cortes managed to lower his road ERA from 6.17 to 5.57. Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Cortes, saying, "I thought Nestor was good. 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 and 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, leading to Royals manager Matt Quatraro being ejected for arguing what he believed was obstruction by Gleyber Torres.
A Look Ahead
With this victory, the Royals hope to build momentum as they push forward in the season. "Quatraro told me he didn't even know I had a no-hitter going," Marsh added. "I responded, 'Don't get tossed next time.’"
Meanwhile, the Yankees need to regroup and address some of the defensive errors that plagued them in this game. They will look to bounce back, utilizing the depth and talent they have at their disposal.
Both teams showcased strong elements but also exposed areas needing improvement. The Royals and Yankees have historical legacies to uphold, and both clubs will undoubtedly strive to finish the season on a high note.