Royals Edge Yankees with Dramatic Ninth-Inning Comeback
It was a thrilling conclusion at Yankees Stadium as Maikel Garcia's game-ending two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes enabled the Kansas City Royals to snatch a 4-3 victory from the jaws of defeat. This dramatic comeback allowed the Royals to avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of New York and ended their own four-game losing streak.
Marsh's No-Hit Bid
The game's storyline was dominated early by rookie pitcher Alec Marsh, who carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against a Yankees lineup that had dominated the first three games of the series. Marsh's no-hit effort came to an end when he allowed a leadoff single to Juan Soto in the seventh inning. Despite this, Marsh composed himself, retiring the next three batters to complete his 96-pitch outing.
Marsh's performance drew praise from his manager and teammates. "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." Manager Matt Quatraro was equally effusive, saying, "I couldn't be more proud of those guys. You're down. That's a really good club with an elite closer coming in."
Yankees' Comeback
The Yankees, known for their resilience, mounted a comeback in the eighth inning. Anthony Rizzo brought New York within one run with a homer, and a critical error by Royals 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 in the same inning.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone had positive comments about his starting pitcher, Nestor Cortes, who allowed two runs over seven innings. "I thought Nestor was good. 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," Boone commented.
Dramatic Ninth Inning
The Royals' comeback in the ninth inning was initiated by Drew Waters, who hit an infield single against Holmes. Following a fielder's choice, Kyle Isbel singled to bring up Maikel Garcia. With the game on the line, Garcia delivered a liner down the left-field line, scoring MJ Melendez and Isbel, sealing the dramatic win for the Royals.
James McArthur then secured the victory for Kansas City by pitching a scoreless ninth inning. This win placed the Royals in second place in the AL Central, a significant morale boost for the team. "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," said Quatraro.
Additional Highlights
One of the game's highlights was Bobby Witt Jr. extending 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 Royals' early lead. However, Kansas City's threat in the sixth inning was cut short when Witt was caught stealing following a pickoff throw by Cortes.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro found himself ejected for arguing obstruction by Gleyber Torres, adding another layer of drama to an already intense game. After the win, Quatraro shared a lighter moment with Marsh, recounting, "Quatraro told me he didn't even know I had a no-hitter going. I responded, 'Don't get tossed next time.’"
Moving Forward
With this victory, the Royals are hopeful they can build some momentum. The players and management alike are keen to use this win as a stepping stone for future success. Meanwhile, the Yankees need to regroup and address the errors and missed opportunities in this game.
In the end, this game will be remembered for the grit and determination shown by the Royals, epitomized by the clutch performance from Maikel Garcia and the stellar pitching effort from Alec Marsh. As the season continues, both teams will be looking to learn from this game and strive for consistency in their upcoming engagements.