Royals Edge Out Yankees with Dramatic Ninth-Inning Rally
Maikel Garcia delivered a thrilling game-ending two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes, allowing the Kansas City Royals to edge out New York with a narrow 4-3 victory. This dramatic win enabled the Royals to avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees and snapped their four-game losing streak.
Rookie Standout Alec Marsh Shines
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh was the standout performer for the Royals, carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against a potent Yankees lineup. Marsh's impressive effort saw him allowing just a leadoff single to Juan Soto in the seventh inning. The rookie remained composed, retiring the next three batters to conclude 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.”
Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected earlier in the game for arguing what he believed to be obstruction by Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres. Despite his early exit, Quatraro spoke highly of his team's resilience. “I couldn’t be more proud of those guys,” he 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’ Late Rally Falls Short
The Yankees, having dominated the first three games of the series, mounted a fierce comeback in the eighth inning against Royals reliever John Schreiber. Anthony Rizzo brought New York within one run with a solo homer. A critical error by Royals 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.
Ninth-Inning Drama
The Royals, however, were not to be denied. Drew Waters initiated the ninth-inning rally with an infield single against Holmes. Following a fielder's choice, Kyle Isbel singled to bring up Garcia. With ice in his veins, Garcia delivered a liner down the left-field line, scoring MJ Melendez and Isbel to secure the win for Kansas City.
James McArthur then closed out the game for the Royals by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, earning the victory for his team.
Strong Performances and Key Moments
Yankees starter Nestor Cortes also delivered a commendable performance, allowing just two runs over seven innings and lowering his road ERA from 6.17 to 5.57. "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."
On the offensive side, Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the fourth inning. Witt eventually scored on Vinnie Pasquantino’s two-run double. Despite creating another threat in the sixth inning, Witt was caught stealing following a pickoff throw by Cortes, cutting short the Royals' momentum at that moment.
“Quatraro told me he didn’t even know I had a no-hitter going,” Marsh said, humorously adding, “I responded, 'Don’t get tossed next time.'”
Outlook
With this victory, the Royals hold onto second place in the AL Central and aim to build on the momentum from this win. For the Yankees, the focus now shifts to regrouping after a heart-wrenching loss. Both teams demonstrated resilience and showcased the unpredictable drama that makes baseball so enthralling.