Alex Verdugo delivered a pivotal single in the seventh inning and made a crucial sliding catch in left field, leading the New York Yankees to a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals in their AL Division Series opener on Saturday night.
The game saw back-and-forth action as New York’s Gleyber Torres and Kansas City’s MJ Melendez each hit two-run home runs. The Royals squandered leads of 1-0, 3-2, and 5-4, while the Yankees were unable to maintain their own leads of 2-1 and 4-3. This resulted in the first postseason game on record with five lead changes, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed his excitement about the thrilling encounter. Kansas City’s pitching staff tied their season high with eight walks, contributing to two Yankees runs in the fifth inning. Although New York struggled, going just 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position before Verdugo’s decisive single off Michael Lorenzen, they ultimately took the lead.
Verdugo’s hit scored Jazz Chisholm Jr., who had led off the inning with a single and advanced to second base following a successful video review. Royals manager Matt Quatraro remarked that he believed there was a strong case for the play to be overturned.
Despite a recent slump in performance, Verdugo was given the chance to play in left field over rookie Jasson Domínguez, a decision that prioritized defense. Verdugo acknowledged that he had been struggling at the plate but emphasized the support he received from his teammates and the importance of the playoffs.
Earlier in the game, during the fourth inning, Verdugo made a remarkable sliding catch off a fly ball from Michael Massey, saving two runs. He managed to secure the catch despite the ball hitting his glove and bouncing off his chest.
Chisholm, who was playing third base this season after being acquired from Miami at the trade deadline, showcased his defensive skills with three significant plays, aided by first baseman Oswaldo Cabrera.
After ace Gerrit Cole exited the game feeling displeased with his performance, four Yankees relievers combined to allow only an unearned run over four innings. Clay Holmes, who had recently been removed from the closer role, earned the win by throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings, while Luke Weaver secured the save in his postseason debut.
Notably, Yankees star Aaron Judge struggled at the plate, going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, while Royals standout Bobby Witt Jr. finished 0 for 5 and voiced his frustration to plate umpire Adam Hamari after a called third strike in the ninth inning.
Juan Soto had a strong game for the Yankees, going 3 for 5 and throwing out Salvador Perez attempting to score from second base. Kansas City first baseman Yuli Gurriel also made significant defensive plays, throwing out runners at the plate.
The AL Division Series will continue on Monday night, following a day off, between the top-seeded Yankees and the wild-card Royals. Historically, these teams faced each other in four playoff series between 1976 and 1980, with the Yankees winning the first three and being swept in the last.
In terms of pitching performance, Cole allowed four runs—three earned—and seven hits over five-plus innings. Royals starter Michael Wacha gave up three runs, four hits, and three walks in four-plus innings.
Notable moments from the game included Tommy Pham’s sacrifice fly in the second inning and Torres’ home run in the third, which gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead. Melendez’s two-run homer in the fourth put Kansas City ahead 3-2, but the Yankees drew two bases-loaded walks in the fifth inning, marking the first time this had happened for New York in a postseason game since 1923.
The score changed again in the sixth inning after Volpe’s throwing error allowed Garrett Hampson to deliver a two-run single, putting the Royals in front 5-4. However, Wells countered with a two-out RBI single in the bottom half to tie the game once again.
Looking ahead, Game 2 of the best-of-five series will feature Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón facing the Royals’ Cole Ragans, setting the stage for another thrilling match-up between the two teams.