Royals Edge Yankees as Garcia Delivers Game-Winning Double
Maikel Garcia's game-ending two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes capped an exciting finish, helping the Kansas City Royals edge out the New York Yankees with a 4-3 victory. This win allowed the Royals to avoid a four-game sweep and snap their four-game losing streak.
Rookie Marsh's Dazzling Performance
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh was sensational for the Royals, carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against the Yankees. Marsh allowed a leadoff single to Juan Soto in the seventh inning but managed to retire the next three batters, wrapping up his 96-pitch outing. "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' Late Comeback
The Yankees, who had dominated the first three games of the series, mounted a fierce comeback against reliever John Schreiber in the eighth inning. Anthony Rizzo brought New York within one run with a solo homer. A critical error by second baseman Garrett Hampson set the stage for Anthony Volpe's RBI grounder. The Yankees then took a 3-2 lead after Angel Zerpa surrendered an RBI single to Soto.
Ninth Inning Drama
The drama peaked in the ninth inning against Holmes. Drew Waters hit an infield single, followed by a fielder's choice and a single by Kyle Isbel, which brought Garcia to the plate. Garcia delivered a liner down the left-field line, scoring MJ Melendez and Isbel to clinch the victory for Kansas City. James McArthur then secured the win for the Royals 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."
Solid Outing for Nestor Cortes
Despite the loss, Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes had a solid outing, allowing two runs over seven innings. He managed to lower 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."
Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the fourth inning for the Royals. Witt, later scored on Vinnie Pasquantino's two-run double. The Royals' sixth inning threat was cut short when Witt was caught stealing following a pickoff throw by Cortes.
Game Ejection and Defensive Highlights
Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected for arguing obstruction by Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres. Garrett Hampson's critical error in the eighth inning allowed the Yankees to tie the game, setting the stage for their brief lead.
Despite the up-and-down drama, the Royals managed to find some stability. “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 Forward
The Royals now hold second place in the AL Central and hope to build on this pivotal victory. Meanwhile, the Yankees have some regrouping to do following their heartbreaking defeat.
This exciting and closely contested game showcased both teams' strengths and weaknesses. With the competitive spirit displayed, fans can expect more thrilling baseball as the season progresses.