Royals Edge Yankees, Avoid Sweep with 4-3 Victory
Maikel Garcia delivered a dramatic walk-off two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes, enabling the Kansas City Royals to edge out New York 4-3. This thrilling finish allowed the Royals to avoid a four-game sweep and end their four-game losing streak.
Marsh’s Stellar Performance
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against the Yankees, showcasing a masterful performance. Marsh allowed a leadoff single to Juan Soto in the seventh but retired the next three batters to wrap up 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."
Despite this, the Yankees managed to mount a comeback against reliever John Schreiber in the eighth inning. Anthony Rizzo brought New York within one run with a homer, and a critical error by second baseman Garrett Hampson set the stage for Anthony Volpe's RBI grounder. The Yankees later took a 3-2 lead after Angel Zerpa surrendered an RBI single to Soto.
Walk-Off Heroics
The Royals’ ninth inning began with Drew Waters hitting an infield single 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. James McArthur secured the win for Kansas City by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
"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."
Royals' Key Contributions
Nestor Cortes of the Yankees also delivered a strong performance, 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."
On the offensive side for Kansas City, 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, providing early momentum for the Royals. However, Kansas City's sixth inning threat was cut short when Witt was caught stealing following a pickoff throw by Cortes.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected for arguing obstruction by Gleyber Torres, adding a layer of drama to an already intense game. "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 currently hold second place in the AL Central and hope to build on this momentum. On the other hand, the Yankees need to regroup after this disappointing loss.
The game was full of highs and lows, but it's the resilience and determination of the Kansas City Royals that ultimately shone through. From Marsh's impressive start to Garcia’s walk-off double, the Royals' performance was a testament to their fighting spirit.
As both teams look forward to their upcoming games, this match will undoubtedly be a memorable moment in their respective seasons. The Royals demonstrated that no matter how tough the opponent or situation, they are capable of overcoming adversity and coming out on top.