KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Maikel Garcia delivered a thrilling game-ending two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes, enabling the Royals to recover from a blown lead and edge out New York 4-3 on Thursday. The triumph helped the Royals avoid a four-game sweep.
Alec Marsh's Stellar Start
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh was the star of the evening for Kansas City, carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against the major league-best Yankees, who currently boast a 49-22 record. The Yankees had dominated the first three games of the series, outscoring the Royals 25-8. Marsh's brilliance on the mound offered a much-needed respite for Kansas City, plagued by a four-game skid.
Despite Marsh allowing a leadoff single to Juan Soto in the seventh, he maintained composure and retired the next three batters to wrap up his 96-pitch outing. “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.”
Yankees’ Eighth-Inning Rally
Once Marsh exited, the Yankees mounted a comeback against reliever John Schreiber in the eighth inning. Anthony Rizzo ignited the rally with a homer, bringing New York within one run, at 2-1. A critical error by second baseman Garrett Hampson set the stage for Anthony Volpe's RBI grounder. The Yankees then took a 3-2 lead after Angel Zerpa surrendered an RBI single to Soto.
Royals’ Ninth-Inning Comeback
With the game on the line in the ninth inning against Holmes (1-2), the Royals showcased their relentless spirit. Drew Waters hit an infield single after Holmes and Rizzo hesitated on who should field the ball. Following a fielder's choice, Kyle Isbel singled to bring up Garcia. With runners on the corners, Garcia delivered a clutch liner down the left-field line, scoring MJ Melendez from third and Isbel from first. "I couldn't be more proud of those guys," said Royals manager Matt Quatraro. “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." Holmes’ blown save was his fourth in 23 chances this season.
Key Contributions and Outstanding Performances
James McArthur (3-3) secured the win for Kansas City by pitching a scoreless ninth inning. The Royals, who now hold second place in the AL Central, managed to snap their four-game losing streak despite going only 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
On the Yankees' side, Nestor Cortes turned in a strong performance, allowing two runs over seven innings, which lowered his road ERA to 5.57 from 6.17. “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.”
Notable Moments
Bobby Witt Jr. also continued his offensive prowess for Kansas City, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games with a fourth-inning single. He scored on Vinnie Pasquantino's two-run double off the left-center wall, giving the Royals their first lead of the series at that point. However, the Royals' threat in the sixth inning was cut short. Witt, who led off with a single, was caught stealing following a pickoff throw by Cortes. Quatraro was subsequently ejected for arguing that Yankees’ second baseman Gleyber Torres obstructed Witt's path to the bag.
Reflections and Future Outlook
After the game, Marsh shared a light-hearted moment with his manager. “Quatraro told me he didn't even know I had a no-hitter going," Marsh said, "and I responded, 'Don't get tossed next time.’” Such anecdotes capture the chemistry and resilience within the Royals' clubhouse.
The Royals hope to build on this victory as they look to climb higher in the AL Central standings, bolstered by the confidence gained from this dramatic win. Meanwhile, the Yankees will need to regroup and address the rare vulnerabilities exposed in this closely contested series.