Royals Snatch Victory from Yankees with Garcia's Game-Winning Double
The Kansas City Royals narrowly escaped a four-game sweep by delivering a thrilling 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees. Maikel Garcia's clutch two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes secured the win in the ninth inning, marking a dramatic conclusion to a hard-fought game.
Marsh's Near No-Hitter Stuns Yankees
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh was sensational on the mound, carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning. Marsh's exceptional performance saw him allowing only a leadoff single to Juan Soto in the seventh. He then retired the next three batters to finish his impressive 96-pitch outing.
Despite Marsh's stellar start, the Yankees managed to mount a comeback. Reliever John Schreiber faced difficulties in the eighth inning, as Anthony Rizzo brought the Yankees within one run with a powerful homer. A critical error by second baseman Garrett Hampson then set the stage for Anthony Volpe's RBI grounder, giving the Yankees a 3-2 lead after Angel Zerpa surrendered an RBI single to Soto.
Ninth-Inning Heroics
The ninth inning saw the Royals displaying their resilience. Drew Waters hit an infield single against Holmes, followed by a fielder's choice and a single from Kyle Isbel, which brought Garcia to the plate. Garcia delivered a liner down the left-field line, scoring MJ Melendez and Isbel, clinching the victory for Kansas City.
James McArthur secured the win by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, showcasing the depth and determination of the Royals bullpen.
Royals' Performance and the Road Ahead
This victory not only snapped the Royals' four-game losing streak but also solidified their second place in the AL Central. Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the fourth inning, scoring on Vinnie Pasquantino's two-run double. However, the Royals' momentum was briefly halted in the sixth inning as Witt was caught stealing following a pickoff throw by Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes.
Cortes himself delivered a commendable performance, allowing just two runs over seven innings and lowering his road ERA to 5.57 from 6.17. Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised Cortes' effort, calling it a "good pitchers' duel" and highlighting his effective fastball and presence on the mound.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected for arguing an obstruction call by Gleyber Torres. Despite this setback, Quatraro expressed immense pride in his team's perseverance and determination. "I couldn't be more proud of those guys," said Quatraro. "You're down against 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' Struggles and Reflections
The Yankees, who had dominated the first three games of the series, were left needing to regroup after this narrow loss. Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the solid effort from the pitching staff but noted the need for the team to consolidate their performances moving forward.
"I thought Nestor was good," Boone commented. "He did a good job, like Marsh, of mixing things up to give us seven strong innings." Despite this, the Yankees' inability to close out the win highlighted the challenges they face in maintaining consistency throughout the season.
Quotes from the Field
Alec Marsh reflected on his near no-hitter, expressing satisfaction with his performance and praising his battery mate. "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."
Marsh humorously recounted a post-game conversation with his manager. "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.'"
As the Royals look to build on this morale-boosting win, the Yankees will seek to bounce back and find their footing once again.
This game epitomized the unpredictable and thrilling nature of baseball, where every inning can shift the tide, and every player has the potential to be the hero.