The Kansas City Royals secured a 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees, evening their American League Division Series at one game apiece. The loss for the Yankees marked a missed opportunity to send the Royals closer to elimination, but there was a surprising lack of frustration in their clubhouse after the game.
Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. remained optimistic, stating, “It still feels the same, that we’re going to win [the series]. We still don’t feel like any team is better than us.” He attributed the loss to unfortunate circumstances, asserting that the Royals benefited from missed chances by the Yankees.
The Yankees started strong, with pitcher Carlos Rodon striking out the side in the first inning and maintaining efficiency early on. Giancarlo Stanton scored Gleyber Torres with a hit that drove in the game’s first run, and the crowd at Yankee Stadium was buzzing with excitement. However, despite their dominant play for three innings, the Yankees failed to capitalize on further scoring opportunities.
They didn’t score again until the ninth inning, when Chisholm hit a home run. The Yankees left eight runners on base throughout the game and struggled with runners in scoring position, going just 1-for-6 in such scenarios. Aaron Judge noted, “We got a couple of guys in scoring position and they buckled down and made some tough pitches on us.”
Judge, who has struggled in postseason performance, attempted to shake off his batting woes but couldn’t find consistency at the plate. The Royals, on the other hand, exploded for four runs in the fourth inning, beginning with Salvador Perez’s leadoff home run. They produced four successive hits, with Tommy Pham and Garrett Hampson contributing runs that ended Rodon’s night early.
The Royals’ offensive outburst silenced the crowd and sparked a “Let’s go, Royals” chant amid the excitement of a nearby NFL game. Looking ahead, the Royals are set to host Game 3 at Kauffman Stadium, where they hope to capitalize on their newfound momentum. Meanwhile, the Yankees are determined to rebound, confident in their ability to regroup after the loss.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the team’s resolve and readiness for the upcoming challenge. “These guys are really confident and understandably so, and we’ll be ready to go in Game 3,” he said.