NEW YORK — Alex Verdugo delivered a decisive single in the seventh inning and made a crucial sliding catch in left field, helping the New York Yankees secure a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals in their American League Division Series opener on Saturday night.
The game featured multiple swings in momentum, with both teams exchanging leads throughout. Gleyber Torres of the Yankees and MJ Melendez of the Royals each hit two-run homers. The Royals squandered leads of 1-0, 3-2, and 5-4, while the Yankees were unable to maintain advantages of 2-1 and 4-3. This matchup marked the first postseason contest recorded with five lead changes, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“What a game!” Yankees manager Aaron Boone remarked.
The Royals struggled with control, tying their season high with eight walks, which contributed to two runs for the Yankees in the fifth inning. The Yankees faced challenges with runners in scoring position, going 1 for 11 before Verdugo’s pivotal single off losing pitcher Michael Lorenzen.
Verdugo’s hit scored Jazz Chisholm Jr., who started the inning with a single and subsequently stole second base, a call upheld after a video review.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro noted, “I think we did have a really good argument that that should have been overturned.”
Boone’s decision to start Verdugo in left field over rookie Jasson Domínguez was partially due to defensive considerations, despite Verdugo’s recent struggles.
“I feel like I’m pretty real with myself,” Verdugo acknowledged. “As in fans booing me, fans getting on me. I understand it. I was booing myself, too.”
Verdugo entered the game in a slump, with just three hits in his last 25 at-bats.
“I just kind of let it spiral out of control a little bit,” he admitted. “It was just really leaning on my guys in the clubhouse. They all got my back.”
In a standout defensive moment, Verdugo made a sliding catch to prevent two runs from scoring in the fourth inning, despite initially juggling the ball.
“Thank goodness it popped over to the left hand, so it all worked out,” he said.
Chisholm, playing third base after being acquired from Miami, made several impressive defensive plays with assistance from first baseman Oswaldo Cabrera, who started due to Anthony Rizzo’s injury.
After starter Gerrit Cole exited, frustrated with his performance after allowing four runs in five-plus innings, Yankees relievers allowed only one unearned run over four innings. Clay Holmes, who was demoted from his closer role last month, pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win, while Luke Weaver secured the save in his postseason debut.
Yankees slugger Aaron Judge went hitless in four at-bats with three strikeouts, and Royals standout Bobby Witt Jr. also struggled, going 0 for 5 and expressing frustration after a called third strike in the ninth.
Juan Soto contributed to the Yankees’ efforts with a 3-for-5 performance, including throwing out Salvador Perez at home plate. Meanwhile, Kansas City first baseman Yuli Gurriel made two key defensive plays at home.
Following an off day, the series continues on Monday night. The Yankees, who finished the regular season atop the AL standings, face the wild-card Royals in a best-of-five series. Historically, the teams have met in postseason play from 1976 to 1980, with the Yankees winning the first three encounters before being swept in the last.
In the pitching matchup, Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.96 ERA) will take the mound for New York against Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.14) of Kansas City.