Garcia's Late-Inning Heroics Propel Royals Past Yankees
Maikel Garcia delivered a clutch two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes, allowing the Kansas City Royals to edge out the New York Yankees 4-3, preventing a four-game sweep.
The decisive hit came in the bottom of the ninth inning, capping off a thrilling game that saw the Yankees claw back from a deficit only to have the victory snatched away at the last moment. With MJ Melendez and Kyle Isbel on base, Garcia lined a double down the left-field line, scoring both runners and sending the Royals' fans into a frenzy.
Marsh's No-Hit Bid
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh had an outstanding performance, carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning. Despite falling short of history, he showcased his potential against a powerful Yankees lineup. Marsh allowed a leadoff single to Juan Soto in the seventh but managed to retire the next three batters, wrapping up his 96-pitch outing on a high note.
"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."
Royals manager Matt Quatraro echoed those sentiments, clearly proud of his rookie pitcher. "I couldn't be more proud of those guys," 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."
Yankees' Comeback Effort
The Yankees, who had 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 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.
However, the Royals weren't about to give up. Drew Waters hit an infield single in the ninth inning against Holmes. Following a fielder's choice, Kyle Isbel singled to bring up Garcia, setting the stage for his game-winning hit.
Pitching Highlights
Nestor Cortes delivered a commendable performance for the Yankees, allowing two runs over seven innings. Cortes lowered his road ERA to 5.57 from 6.17 and kept the Royals' hitters at bay for most of the game. "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."
On the Royals' side, James McArthur secured the win by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, closing out the game in dramatic fashion.
Witt Jr.'s Streak Continues
Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the fourth inning. He later scored on Vinnie Pasquantino's two-run double, contributing to the Royals' early lead. Despite a sixth-inning threat that was cut short when Witt was caught stealing following a pickoff throw by Cortes, the Royals' offense managed to stay competitive throughout the game.
Quatraro's ejection for arguing obstruction by Gleyber Torres added another layer of drama to an already intense game. Still, the Royals managed to focus and pull off a much-needed win.
Future Outlook
This victory allows the Royals to hold second place in the AL Central and snaps their four-game losing streak. They hope to build on this momentum with more consistent performances in the coming games.
The Yankees, on the other hand, need to regroup after this tough loss. They demonstrated resilience by mounting a comeback, but their bullpen faltered at a critical juncture, costing them the game. "Quatraro told me he didn't even know I had a no-hitter going," Marsh said with a laugh. "I responded, 'Don't get tossed next time.'"
Both teams have takeaways from this game—the Royals showcased their fighting spirit, while the Yankees need to tighten their defense and bullpen strategies to avoid losses in close games. As the season progresses, performances like these will be crucial in determining their playoff fate.