Royals Snatch Victory with Garcia's Heroics
In a thrilling finish at Yankee Stadium, Maikel Garcia delivered a game-ending two-run double off Yankees closer Clay Holmes, allowing the Kansas City Royals to edge out New York 4-3. The crucial hit helped the Royals avoid a four-game sweep and snapped their four-game losing streak.
Marsh's Stellar Outing
Rookie pitcher Alec Marsh had a remarkable start, carrying a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against the powerhouse Yankees lineup. Marsh was in control throughout, allowing just one hit—a leadoff single to Juan Soto in the seventh. He then retired the next three batters, wrapping up his impressive 96-pitch outing.
"I thought we had a good game plan going in," Marsh said after the game, praising catcher Freddy Fermin for their seamless coordination. "Me and [catcher Freddy Fermin] were on the same page all day. I just felt comfortable out there."
Yankees' Comeback Efforts
The Yankees, who had dominated the first three games of the series, mounted a comeback against Royals reliever John Schreiber in the eighth inning. Anthony Rizzo brought New York within one run with a home run, and a critical error by second baseman Garrett Hampson set the stage for Anthony Volpe's RBI grounder. The Yankees took a 3-2 lead after Angel Zerpa surrendered an RBI single to Soto.
Despite contributing to the Yankees' efforts, Yankees manager Aaron Boone had words of praise for Nestor Cortes. "I thought Nestor was good. It was a good pitchers' duel," he said. "His fastball was playing up. He was at 90, 91, 92, but it had something on it. He had a presence on both sides. I thought he did a good job, like Marsh, of mixing things up to give us seven strong innings."
Royals' Ninth Inning Rally
The Royals, however, weren't done. Drew Waters hit an infield single in the ninth inning against Holmes. Following a fielder's choice, Kyle Isbel singled to bring up Garcia. With the game on the line, Garcia delivered a liner down the left-field line, scoring MJ Melendez and Isbel to secure the win.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro couldn't have been prouder of his team's resilience. "I couldn't be more proud of those guys," he said. "You're down. That's a really good club with an elite closer coming in. The way they hustle, the way they never quit, it's inspiring for me to come to work every day to be around these guys."
James McArthur then sealed the victory for Kansas City by pitching a scoreless ninth inning, ensuring the Royals held onto their second-place position in the AL Central.
Additional Highlights
In other key moments, Bobby Witt Jr. extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the fourth inning. He later scored on Vinnie Pasquantino's two-run double. However, Witt's attempt to steal in the sixth inning was cut short by a pickoff throw from Nestor Cortes, who allowed two runs over seven innings and lowered his road ERA to 5.57 from 6.17.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro's ejection for arguing obstruction by Gleyber Torres added another layer of drama to the game. "Quatraro told me he didn't even know I had a no-hitter going," Marsh said. "I responded, 'Don't get tossed next time.’"
Looking Ahead
With this victory, the Royals hope to build momentum and climb higher in the standings. They demonstrated grit and determination, characteristics that will be essential as the season progresses. On the other hand, the Yankees need to regroup after the disappointing loss to maintain their competitive edge.
The game was a perfect example of why baseball remains one of the most unpredictable and exciting sports, filled with moments of individual brilliance and collective effort. As the Royals celebrate this hard-earned win, the Yankees will undoubtedly be looking for ways to come back stronger in their next outing.