Royals Edge Yankees in Dramatic Fashion
The Kansas City Royals pulled off a thrilling 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees, avoiding a four-game sweep at the hands of their Bronx opponents. The game took an electrifying turn in the final inning when Maikel Garcia delivered a game-ending two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes. This dramatic hit allowed the Royals to clinch the win and snap their four-game losing streak.
Marsh’s No-Hit Bid
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh was the star of the night, initially carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning. His impressive outing was broken up by a leadoff single from Yankees slugger Juan Soto in the seventh. Despite this setback, Marsh managed to retire the next three batters, concluding his 96-pitch outing without any further damage.
"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."
Yankees’ Comeback
The Yankees, who had dominated the first three games of the series, showed resilience in the eighth inning. Anthony Rizzo narrowed the Royals' lead with a solo homer, bringing New York within one run. 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.
Royals’ Ninth-Inning Rally
Determined to fight back, the Royals mounted a ninth-inning rally. Drew Waters ignited the spark with an infield single off Holmes. Following a fielder’s choice that put Waters out, Kyle Isbel singled to bring Garcia to the plate. Garcia delivered a liner down the left-field line, scoring MJ Melendez and Isbel for the walk-off win.
"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 secured the victory for Kansas City by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, sealing the win and giving the Royals a much-needed morale boost. The win propelled the Royals to second place in the AL Central, rekindling their hopes for the season.
Nestor Cortes’ Solid Performance
On the Yankees’ side, starting pitcher Nestor Cortes delivered a commendable performance, allowing two runs over seven innings while 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.”
Game Highlights
Among other notable moments, 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, contributing to the early lead the Royals would eventually need to protect.
The Royals' sixth inning rally was abruptly ended when Witt was caught stealing following a pickoff throw by Cortes. Additionally, Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected for arguing obstruction by Yankees' Gleyber Torres, further adding to the game’s dramatic turns.
"Quatraro told me he didn't even know I had a no-hitter going," Marsh said. "I responded, 'Don't get tossed next time.’"
Looking Ahead
With this victory, the Royals hope to build momentum as they continue their season. Meanwhile, the Yankees need to regroup and address their shortcomings, particularly in their bullpen, which has shown vulnerability in critical moments.
The Royals will look to carry this fighting spirit into their upcoming games, while the Yankees must regain their footing and live up to their early-season promise. Both teams have lessons to take away from this closely contested series, and fans can expect more exciting baseball as the season progresses.