Alex Verdugo, Yankees clip Royals to open ALDS

Field Level Media|published: Sat 5th October, 22:42 2024

Oct 5, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher John Schreiber (46) throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees during game one of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

NEW YORK -- Alex Verdugo hit a tiebreaking RBI single with two outs in the seventh inning and the New York Yankees opened the American League Division Series with a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.

Game 2 is Monday night in New York.

Verdugo reached base three times, doing so six days after delivering a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth of the Yankees' regular-season finale, a 6-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates last Sunday.

With Jazz Chisholm Jr. on second after opening the inning with a single and a stolen base that was upheld via video review, Verdugo lined an 0-1 cutter from Michael Lorenzen (0-1) into left field. He advanced to second when Chisholm scored standing up ahead of left fielder MJ Melendez's throw to the plate.

Verdugo's clutch hit occurred after the Yankees tied the game in the sixth on a run-scoring bloop single by Austin Wells, who also drew one of New York's two bases-loaded walks in the fifth. Anthony Volpe had the other bases-loaded free pass, but his error in the top of the sixth eventually led to Garrett Hampson's pinch-hit two-run single that gave the Royals a 5-4 lead.

Volpe committed a throwing error on a forceout attempt at second following a ground ball by Tommy Pham, and the misplay proved to be costly when Hampson hit his two-run single off Tim Hill through a drawn-in infield.

Verdugo singled in the third and scored on a two-run homer by Gleyber Torres. He also opened the home half of the sixth with a walk and scored on Wells' game-tying base hit.

Melendez hit a two-run homer and Pham lifted a sacrifice fly to center against New York starter Gerrit Cole as the Royals took a 3-2 lead through four innings.

Cole allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits in five-plus innings, getting lifted after Yuli Gurriel opened the sixth with a single. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner struck out four, walked two and threw 80 pitches.

Clay Holmes relieved Hill in the sixth, got the final two outs of the frame and pitched a 1-2-3 seventh. Tommy Kahnle went two-thirds of an inning, and Luke Weaver recorded a four-out save.

Kansas City starter Michael Wacha allowed three runs on four hits in four-plus innings. He struck out three and walked three.

--Larry Fleisher, Field Level Media

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