KANSAS
CITY, Mo. -- Not even the starting pitcher with the best ERA in the
majors could slow down the hot-hitting, free-swinging New York Yankees on Wednesday night.
Aaron Hicks hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run fourth inning, New York piled up 16 hits against Jason Vargas and the Kansas City bullpen, and the Yankees rolled to an 11-7 victory -- their fourth straight game scoring at least seven runs.
"I thought they just put really good at-bats together against him, even the first time through, when we didn't score," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "The second time through, we got to him."
Vargas (5-2) carried a 1.01 ERA into the game, but allowed as many runs in the fourth inning as he had in his first seven starts combined. The veteran left-hander was lifted after allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks in only four innings, ending his home unbeaten streak at 10 games.
"He just wasn't sharp. It's one of those days where he got through the first three OK and then just really struggled to finish off his pitches," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "He was getting pitches up at times. He got hurt on a fastball, a curveball and a changeup -- all three of them."
Then again, maybe Vargas's abysmal night shouldn't have been that much of a surprise. He's never beaten the Yankees in nine starts and 10 outings, going 0-6 with a 7.15 ERA.
"Obviously the home run extended the game for them and put us in a pretty good hole," Vargas said. "I just didn't do a great job of executing."
Michael Pineda (4-2) allowed three runs and six hits with two walks over six-plus innings. The big right-hander was shaky throughout, but good enough to win for only the second time in 16 road starts.
"When you have a lot of scoring like that, you feel pretty good," Pineda said. "Comfortable."
Starlin Castro had three hits and drove in a run. Brett Gardner and Didi Gregorius each had two hits and two RBI. In fact, the only Yankees without a hit by the fifth inning were Matt Holliday and Aaron Judge, and all Judge had done was draw a pair of walks and score both times.
Holliday and Judge promptly got their base hits in the sixth.
Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer and Whit Merrifield also went deep for Kansas City, which scored three times in the ninth to make the final score more respectable.
The Yankees entered the game leading the big leagues with a plus-59 run differential, and they added to it on a windy night at Kauffman Stadium. They pounded their 59th home run through their first 37 games, and scored seven or more runs for the fourth consecutive game.
They routed the Royals 7-1 in the series opener Tuesday night.
TWO FOR ONE
Yankees third baseman Chase Headley was charged with two errors on one play in the seventh inning. First, he bobbled a grounder that allowed Merrifield to reach first safely. Then, he threw widely of first base to allow the lead runner to go from second to third.
A-ROD ON TV
Alex Rodriguez makes his debut as a color commentator for the series finale on Thursday. A-Rod will join Kevin Burkhardt in calling the game on Fox Sports. Rodriguez has been active in TV since his retirement, doing pre- and postgame analysis for Fox Sports along with other projects.
"I get a chance to talk to him tomorrow pregame and talk about the team, so that will be kind of strange," Girardi said. "That means I'm getting old."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals RHP Ian Kennedy played long toss before the game and should be ready to start Saturday. He has been out with a right hamstring injury. "Things are looking pretty good," Yost said. ... CF Lorenzo Cain left after jamming his left wrist trying to make a sliding catch. Yost called it precautionary.
UP NEXT
Yankees LHP Jordan Montgomery goes for his third career win in his seventh big league start on Thursday night. He was battered by Houston in his last start Friday night.
Royals LHP Danny Duffy tries to snap a five-start winless streak against his nemesis. Duffy is just 1-2 with a 7.29 ERA in seven appearances against New York.
---
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
New York Yankees
Aaron Hicks hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run fourth inning, New York piled up 16 hits against Jason Vargas and the Kansas City bullpen, and the Yankees rolled to an 11-7 victory -- their fourth straight game scoring at least seven runs.
"I thought they just put really good at-bats together against him, even the first time through, when we didn't score," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "The second time through, we got to him."
Vargas (5-2) carried a 1.01 ERA into the game, but allowed as many runs in the fourth inning as he had in his first seven starts combined. The veteran left-hander was lifted after allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks in only four innings, ending his home unbeaten streak at 10 games.
"He just wasn't sharp. It's one of those days where he got through the first three OK and then just really struggled to finish off his pitches," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "He was getting pitches up at times. He got hurt on a fastball, a curveball and a changeup -- all three of them."
Then again, maybe Vargas's abysmal night shouldn't have been that much of a surprise. He's never beaten the Yankees in nine starts and 10 outings, going 0-6 with a 7.15 ERA.
"Obviously the home run extended the game for them and put us in a pretty good hole," Vargas said. "I just didn't do a great job of executing."
Michael Pineda (4-2) allowed three runs and six hits with two walks over six-plus innings. The big right-hander was shaky throughout, but good enough to win for only the second time in 16 road starts.
"When you have a lot of scoring like that, you feel pretty good," Pineda said. "Comfortable."
Starlin Castro had three hits and drove in a run. Brett Gardner and Didi Gregorius each had two hits and two RBI. In fact, the only Yankees without a hit by the fifth inning were Matt Holliday and Aaron Judge, and all Judge had done was draw a pair of walks and score both times.
Holliday and Judge promptly got their base hits in the sixth.
Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer and Whit Merrifield also went deep for Kansas City, which scored three times in the ninth to make the final score more respectable.
The Yankees entered the game leading the big leagues with a plus-59 run differential, and they added to it on a windy night at Kauffman Stadium. They pounded their 59th home run through their first 37 games, and scored seven or more runs for the fourth consecutive game.
They routed the Royals 7-1 in the series opener Tuesday night.
TWO FOR ONE
Yankees third baseman Chase Headley was charged with two errors on one play in the seventh inning. First, he bobbled a grounder that allowed Merrifield to reach first safely. Then, he threw widely of first base to allow the lead runner to go from second to third.
A-ROD ON TV
Alex Rodriguez makes his debut as a color commentator for the series finale on Thursday. A-Rod will join Kevin Burkhardt in calling the game on Fox Sports. Rodriguez has been active in TV since his retirement, doing pre- and postgame analysis for Fox Sports along with other projects.
"I get a chance to talk to him tomorrow pregame and talk about the team, so that will be kind of strange," Girardi said. "That means I'm getting old."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals RHP Ian Kennedy played long toss before the game and should be ready to start Saturday. He has been out with a right hamstring injury. "Things are looking pretty good," Yost said. ... CF Lorenzo Cain left after jamming his left wrist trying to make a sliding catch. Yost called it precautionary.
UP NEXT
Yankees LHP Jordan Montgomery goes for his third career win in his seventh big league start on Thursday night. He was battered by Houston in his last start Friday night.
Royals LHP Danny Duffy tries to snap a five-start winless streak against his nemesis. Duffy is just 1-2 with a 7.29 ERA in seven appearances against New York.
---
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| New York - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Vargas pitching for Kansas City | NYY | KC |
| Gardner singled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Sánchez lined out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Holliday struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Castro doubled to deep right, Gardner scored. | 1 | 0 |
| Judge struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Michael Pineda pitching for New York | NYY | KC |
| Escobar grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Moustakas flied out to right. | 1 | 0 |
| Cain singled to right. | 1 | 0 |
| Cain stole second. | 1 | 0 |
| Cain to third on wild pitch by Pineda. | 1 | 0 |
| Hosmer grounded out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jason Vargas pitching for Kansas City | NYY | KC |
| Headley fouled out to first. | 1 | 0 |
| Gregorius flied out to right. | 1 | 0 |
| Hicks struck out looking. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Michael Pineda pitching for New York | NYY | KC |
| Pérez flied out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Soler grounded out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Moss flied out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jason Vargas pitching for Kansas City | NYY | KC |
| Carter fouled out to first. | 1 | 0 |
| Gardner flied out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Sánchez grounded out to third. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Michael Pineda pitching for New York | NYY | KC |
| Merrifield grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Gordon walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Escobar grounded into double play, pitcher to second to shortstop to first, Gordon out at second. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jason Vargas pitching for Kansas City | NYY | KC |
| Holliday fouled out to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Castro doubled to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Judge walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Headley flied out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Gregorius singled to right, Castro scored, Judge to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Hicks homered to left (396 feet), Judge and Gregorius scored. | 5 | 0 |
| Carter singled to center. | 5 | 0 |
| Gardner tripled to deep right, Carter scored. | 6 | 0 |
| Sánchez walked. | 6 | 0 |
| Holliday struck out swinging. | 6 | 0 |
| 5 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Michael Pineda pitching for New York | NYY | KC |
| Moustakas singled to right. | 6 | 0 |
| Cain grounded into double play, third to second to first, Moustakas out at second. | 6 | 0 |
| Hosmer singled to right center. | 6 | 0 |
| Pérez homered to center (444 feet), Hosmer scored. | 6 | 2 |
| Soler struck out swinging. | 6 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Peter Moylan pitching for Kansas City | NYY | KC |
| Moylan relieved Vargas. | 6 | 2 |
| Castro reached on infield single to second. | 6 | 2 |
| Judge walked, Castro to second. | 6 | 2 |
| Headley singled to shallow left, Castro scored, Judge to second. | 7 | 2 |
| Gregorius singled to center, Judge scored, Headley to second. | 8 | 2 |
| Hicks walked, Headley to third, Gregorius to second. | 8 | 2 |
| Carter grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Headley scored, Hicks out at second, Gregorius to third. | 9 | 2 |
| Gardner hit sacrifice fly to left, Gregorius scored, Carter to second. | 10 | 2 |
| Sánchez singled to left, Carter out at home, Sánchez to second advancing on throw. | 10 | 2 |
| 5 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Michael Pineda pitching for New York | NYY | KC |
| Moss flied out to left. | 10 | 2 |
| Merrifield homered to left center (428 feet). | 10 | 3 |
| Gordon struck out swinging. | 10 | 3 |
| Escobar struck out swinging. | 10 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Seth Maness pitching for Kansas City | NYY | KC |
| Cuthbert at second base. | 10 | 3 |
| Merrifield in left field. | 10 | 3 |
| Gordon in center field. | 10 | 3 |
| Maness relieved Moylan. | 10 | 3 |
| Holliday singled to right. | 10 | 3 |
| Castro flied out to center. | 10 | 3 |
| Judge singled to left center, Holliday to second. | 10 | 3 |
| Headley struck out swinging. | 10 | 3 |
| Gregorius lined out to center. | 10 | 3 |
| -1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Michael Pineda pitching for New York | NYY | KC |
| Moustakas hit by pitch. | 10 | 3 |
| Cuthbert struck out swinging. | 10 | 3 |
| Hosmer walked, Moustakas to second. | 10 | 3 |
| Pérez flied out to right, Moustakas to third. | 10 | 3 |
| Soler struck out swinging. | 10 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Travis Wood pitching for Kansas City | NYY | KC |
| Butera catching. | 10 | 3 |
| Wood relieved Maness. | 10 | 3 |
| Hicks singled to right. | 10 | 3 |
| Carter struck out looking. | 10 | 3 |
| Gardner grounded into double play, shortstop to first, Hicks out at second. | 10 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Michael Pineda pitching for New York | NYY | KC |
| Moss singled to left. | 10 | 3 |
| Merrifield safe at first, Moss to 2nd on fielding error by third baseman Headley, Moss to 3rd on throwing error by third baseman Headley. | 10 | 3 |
| Layne relieved Pineda. | 10 | 3 |
| Gordon flied out to left. | 10 | 3 |
| Warren relieved Layne. | 10 | 3 |
| Escobar hit sacrifice fly to center, Moss scored. | 10 | 4 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 2 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Travis Wood pitching for Kansas City | NYY | KC |
| Sánchez singled to center. | 10 | 4 |
| Holliday singled to left, Sánchez to third. | 10 | 4 |
| Castro walked, Holliday to second. | 10 | 4 |
| Judge struck out looking. | 10 | 4 |
| Headley grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Sánchez scored, Castro out at second, Holliday to third. | 11 | 4 |
| Gregorius grounded out to first. | 11 | 4 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Adam Warren pitching for New York | NYY | KC |
| Torreyes at second base. | 11 | 4 |
| Cuthbert grounded out to shortstop. | 11 | 4 |
| Hosmer grounded out to second. | 11 | 4 |
| Butera struck out looking. | 11 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| New York - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Al Alburquerque pitching for Kansas City | NYY | KC |
| Alburquerque relieved Wood. | 11 | 4 |
| Hicks grounded out to first. | 11 | 4 |
| Carter struck out swinging. | 11 | 4 |
| Gardner grounded out to third. | 11 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Kansas City - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Giovanny Gallegos pitching for New York | NYY | KC |
| Gallegos relieved Warren. | 11 | 4 |
| Soler singled to left. | 11 | 4 |
| Moss struck out swinging. | 11 | 4 |
| Merrifield flied out to center. | 11 | 4 |
| Gordon singled to right, Soler to second. | 11 | 4 |
| Escobar reached on infield single to third, Soler to third, Gordon to second. | 11 | 4 |
| Moustakas singled to left, Soler scored, Gordon to third, Escobar to second. | 11 | 5 |
| Cuthbert singled to center, Gordon and Escobar scored, Moustakas to second. | 11 | 7 |
| Betances relieved Gallegos. | 11 | 7 |
| Hosmer grounded out to pitcher. | 11 | 7 |
| 3 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
New York Yankees
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner LF | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | .285 | .373 | .515 |
| Sánchez C | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | .293 | .397 | .466 |
| Holliday DH | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 29 | .272 | .373 | .500 |
| Castro 2B | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15 | .351 | .387 | .545 |
Torreyes 2B
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .295 | .303 | .386 |
| Judge RF | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 27 | .320 | .426 | .720 |
| Headley 3B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .256 | .336 | .406 |
| Gregorius SS | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 | .319 | .351 | .417 |
| Hicks CF | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 21 | .326 | .464 | .616 |
| Carter 1B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 22 | .230 | .310 | .365 |
| Totals | 40 | 11 | 16 | 11 | 5 | 8 | 182 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Castro 2 (9, Vargas 2) 3B: Gardner (1, Vargas) HR: Hicks (7, 4th inning off Vargas 2 on, 2 Out) RBI: Castro (26), Gregorius 2 (12), Hicks 3 (19), Gardner 2 (16), Headley 2 (17), Carter (11) SF: Gardner 2-out RBI: Castro, Gregorius, Hicks 3, Gardner GIDP: Gardner Yankees RISP: 5-14 (Sánchez 1-1, Headley 1-4, Holliday 0-1, Gregorius 2-4, Hicks 1-1, Carter 0-1, Judge 0-2) Team LOB: 8 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Headley 2 (9, throw, ground ball) DP: 2 (Pineda-Castro-Gregorius-Carter, Headley-Castro-Carter). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO |
| Attendance | 22,899 (60.4% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:23 |
| Weather | 80 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 20 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Stu Scheurwater, First Base - Joe West, Second Base - Jim Reynolds, Third Base - Lance Barrett |
No comments:
Post a Comment