The New York Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals 6-5 to take a 1-0 lead in the American League Division Series. The lead in the game see-sawed back and forth in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. In the seventh, Alex Verdugo singled to left to score Jazz Chisholm Jr. to put the Yankees on top 6-5, and from there it was all bullpen by both teams. Reliever Clay Holmes was credited with the win on 1.2 innings pitched, allowing only one hit.
Takeaways From New York Yankees Victory
On a day that saw a blowout in Cleveland with the Guardians drubbing the Detroit Tigers 7-0 but also a dramatic comeback by the New York Mets in a 6-2 win in Philadelphia against the Phillies, the New York Yankees victory was fairly low-key. Of all the playoff games Saturday, Yankees-Royals seemed the most like a regular season game. Even after fifteen years, the new Yankee Stadium seems staid and corporate. At no point in the Yankees’ epic run from 1996 to 2001 would there have been an empty seat behind home plate. There were several Saturday.
Yankees Marquee Players Were Fine
Gerrit Cole, the Yankees $324M former Cy Young award winner, pitched 5.0 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks. He gave up a two-run homer in the fourth to Royals Left Fielder MJ Melendez, a player who hit .206 on the season. Cole also struck out four Royals batters in his less than dominant performance.
Aaron Judge went 0-4 but did score a run after drawing a walk in the fifth. Giancarlo Stanton was 0-4 with a walk. Only Juan Soto of the marquee hitters in the New York Yankees lineup showed up. Soto was 3-5 with two singles and a double. He didn’t drive in any runs because there weren’t men on when he came up and he didn’t score because no one drove him in. The only New York Yankees hitter with a World Series ring did his job and the team won, so it was fine.
This Turned Into a Bullpen Game
The postseason used to feature matchups between starting pitchers. That’s not the case anymore. Starting pitchers in game one of the ALDS between the Yanks and Royals accounted for half of the innings pitched. As noted earlier, Cole pitched 5.0 innings of mediocre baseball. The Royals’ pitcher, Michael Wacha, threw four innings, giving up four hits, and a home run to Gleyber Torres in the third while walking three Yankees hitters.
The other nine innings of the game were managed by nine different relief pitchers. The New York Yankees bullpen threw 4.0 innings, allowed two hits, and gave up one run in the sixth inning. The Royals countered with four innings of five-hit, three-run baseball. It would be safe to say that no casual fan ever heard of any of the pitchers in the game after the fifth inning. The New York Yankees and Royals will pick back up on Monday, hopefully with a bit more of a playoff vibe.
For More Great Content
Craving top-tier content that covers it all? From electrifying sports highlights and insider entertainment news to expert gaming tips and sharp betting advice, we’ve got you covered. Dive into our curated articles to stay ahead of the game with the latest sports action, uncover the hottest trends in entertainment, and get the lowdown on gaming strategies that could level up your play.
Plus, our betting advice will sharpen your edge and boost your chances of winning big. Whether you’re looking to stay updated or gain a competitive edge, our content is your go-to source for all things exciting and relevant. Don’t miss out—explore now and power up your knowledge! Follow us on Twitter/X @TotalApexSports, to stay informed.
