Royals Rally Past Yankees with Garcia's Walk-Off Double
Royals Rally Past Yankees with Garcia's Walk-Off Double
In a thrilling finish at the ballpark, Maikel Garcia delivered a game-ending two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes, lifting the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 victory over New York. The late-game heroics enabled the Royals to avoid a four-game sweep and snap their losing streak.
Marsh's No-Hit Bid
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh was outstanding on the mound, carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against the Yankees. Marsh showcased his potential by keeping the Yankees' lineup off balance for most of the game. However, he allowed a leadoff single to Juan Soto in the seventh, which ended his no-hit attempt. Despite this setback, Marsh retired the next three batters to finish his 96-pitch outing, leaving the game with a sense of accomplishment.
"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' Comeback Attempt
The Yankees, who had dominated the first three games of the series, showed resilience in the late innings. In the eighth inning, Anthony Rizzo brought New York within one run with a solo homer off reliever John Schreiber. A critical error by Royals second baseman Garrett Hampson set the stage for Anthony Volpe's RBI grounder, which tied the game at 2-2.
The Yankees then seized the lead in the same inning when Angel Zerpa surrendered an RBI single to Soto, making it 3-2 in their favor. The momentum seemed to have shifted, but the Royals were not done yet.
Royals' Dramatic Ninth Inning
In the ninth inning, the Royals mounted their own comeback against Holmes. Drew Waters hit an infield single to start the rally. After a fielder's choice, Kyle Isbel singled to bring up Maikel Garcia with two runners on base. Garcia then delivered a clutch liner down the left-field line, scoring MJ Melendez and Isbel to secure the win for Kansas City.
"I couldn't be more proud of those guys," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. "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 pitched a scoreless ninth inning to secure the victory for the Royals, who now hold second place in the AL Central. The Royals hope to build on this victory as they move forward.
Individual Performances
Nestor Cortes of the Yankees had a strong outing despite the loss. He allowed two runs over seven innings, lowering his road ERA from 6.17 to 5.57. Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised his performance, saying, "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."
Bobby Witt Jr. continued his hot streak for the Royals by extending his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the fourth inning. Witt scored on Vinnie Pasquantino's two-run double, contributing to the Royals' early lead. However, Witt was caught stealing following a pickoff throw by Cortes, ending a potential threat in the sixth inning.
The game also saw some contentious moments, including the ejection of Royals manager Matt Quatraro for arguing obstruction by Gleyber Torres. Despite these challenges, the Royals demonstrated resilience and determination to come out on top.
Looking Ahead
The Royals hope to build on this emotional victory as they continue their season. For the Yankees, the focus will be on regrouping and addressing the mistakes that cost them the game.
Overall, the game was a showcase of young talent and veteran presence, with both teams displaying moments of brilliance. Fans were treated to a dramatic and memorable finish, exemplifying the unpredictable and exciting nature of baseball.
