KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In a game defined by intense defense and one critical error, Pablo Reyes became the unexpected hero, racing home in a chaotic eighth inning to secure a 1-0 win for the New York Yankees over the Kansas City Royals. The thrilling victory was largely due to a mishap by Kansas City reliever Lucas Erceg, who botched a throw that allowed Reyes to score.
The Yankees wrapped up their three-game sweep, having dominated the Royals with a spotless 6-0 record for this season, following last year’s playoff victory. With this win, the Yankees, who lead the AL East, stand 17 games above .500, highlighting their impressive season. Their exceptional performance on the road continued, boasting a record of 21-13, which is the major league’s best.
In the eighth inning, the pivotal moment came as Paul Goldschmidt smacked a single that deflected off and beyond first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Erceg hustled to cover first base, yet couldn’t execute the throw in time to beat Goldschmidt, allowing Reyes, who had initially lost his balance at third, to zigzag his way to home plate. Erceg’s errant throw permitted Reyes to complete his daring run.
The contest was yet another testament to skillful pitching and defense. Both starters, Seth Lugo and Will Warren, held tight, not allowing any runs for the initial 5 2/3 innings, with Lugo conceding just two hits, and Warren allowing four hits. The Yankees’ bullpen was particularly effective, with Mark Leiter Jr. acquiring the win and Devin Williams efficiently closing out the ninth inning with his ninth save, concluding the game with a precision strikeout of rookie Jac Caglianone.
Rain briefly halted the game for 28 minutes during the top of the sixth, but it didn’t dampen New York’s defensive resolve. Notably, Vinnie Pasquantino of the Royals extended his hitting and on-base streaks, proving to be a persistent challenge for the Yankees.
The Yankees opted to rest key players Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Austin Wells for the game, who together were instrumental in the series’ earlier games, successfully contributing three home runs and ten RBIs.
Kansas City had their chances to challenge the Yankees’ lead but failed to capitalize on them, leaving runners stranded in promising positions during the second and fifth innings. New York’s sweep of the Royals marked the third time in the franchise’s history that they’ve accomplished this feat against Kansas City and continued a dominant trend, having secured 19 of the last 20 series between the clubs.
Looking forward, the Yankees are set to continue their road tour, with Ryan Yarbrough taking the mound against Boston’s Garrett Crochet at Fenway Park in an opening match of a three-game series. Meanwhile, the Royals will be returning home to face the Athletics, where Michael Wacha will pitch against Luis Severino.