On a chilly evening, Maikel Garcia stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth and delivered a game-ending two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes, enabling the Kansas City Royals to edge out the New York Yankees 4-3. This thrilling victory allowed the Royals to avoid a four-game sweep, offering a glimmer of hope as they snapped a four-game losing streak.
A Dominant Start Met with Resilience
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh was the story of the night, as he carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against the formidable Yankees lineup. In a stellar performance, Marsh dominated the Yankees early on, leaving fans in awe of his composure and skill. However, the no-hit bid was broken when Juan Soto led off the seventh inning with a single. Despite this, Marsh retired the next three batters to wrap up his 96-pitch outing, showcasing his resilience.
"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."
Royals manager Matt Quatraro couldn’t hold back his admiration for Marsh and the team. "I couldn't be more proud of those guys," he 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."
Yankees' Late Surge
The Yankees, having dominated the first three games of the series, mounted a comeback against reliever John Schreiber in the eighth inning. Anthony Rizzo brought New York within one run with a towering homer. A critical error by Royals' second baseman Garrett Hampson then set the stage for Anthony Volpe's RBI grounder. Subsequently, the Yankees took a 3-2 lead after Angel Zerpa surrendered an RBI single to Soto.
"I thought Nestor was good," commented Yankees manager Aaron Boone about his starter, Nestor Cortes. "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."
A Dramatic Finish
Drew Waters sparked the Royals’ ninth-inning rally with an infield single against Holmes. Following a fielder's choice, Kyle Isbel singled to bring up Garcia, setting the stage for his clutch performance. Garcia then delivered a liner down the left-field line, scoring MJ Melendez and Isbel, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
James McArthur secured the win for Kansas City by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, solidifying his role as a reliable bullpen arm. The victory not only gave the Royals a much-needed win but also held significance in their standing as they maintain second place in the AL Central.
Key Performances
Besides Garcia’s heroics, 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, contributing to the team’s early lead. Despite the sixth-inning threat being cut short when Witt was caught stealing following a pickoff throw by Cortes, the Royals showed grit and determination throughout the game.
Unfortunately, Royals manager Matt Quatraro was ejected for arguing obstruction by Gleyber Torres, but it didn’t detract from the team's perseverance and spirit.
Path Forward
As the Royals hope to build on this victory, one thing is clear: this win showcased their fighting spirit. "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.’"
On the other hand, the Yankees need to regroup after this tough loss. Despite a strong starting performance from Nestor Cortes, the bullpen couldn't hold on to the lead, showcasing the unpredictable nature of baseball.
This game was a testament to the beauty of the sport, where every moment can turn the tide and heroes can emerge from any corner of the field. With this thrilling victory, the Royals have reignited their campaign, while the Yankees will need to assess and adjust as they move forward.