After defeating the Royals within the 2024 American League Division Sequence, the Yankees picked up the place they left off with a 4-1 victory over Kansas Metropolis on Monday night time.
An influence surge at Yankee Stadium fueled the Bombers’ series-opening win, as Trent Grisham, Ben Rice and Austin Wells all smoked solo pictures off Royals starter Seth Lugo within the fifth inning. The correct-hander has damage the Yankees previously – Lugo entered the sport with a 2.55 profession ERA in opposition to them – however the Bombers’ lefty-swingers had been throughout his heaters and tendency to assault on Monday.
“He makes a lot of really good pitches,” Wells mentioned. “I feel like he’s not afraid to come right at you when there’s not really a lot of guys on base. So [we were] just trying to be aggressive and get a good pitch to hit.”
Austin Powers 💪 pic.twitter.com/gucmWcXi3j
Lugo’s powerful luck with the longball truly started within the fourth inning, as Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit his personal bases-empty blast. Chisholm, grateful to now not be enjoying within the freezing chilly, now has six residence runs this season after additionally going deep on Sunday to snap an 0-for-24 skid.
On the time of publication, Chisholm was tied with Aaron Choose, amongst a number of others, for the most important league lead in homers. Chisholm and Choose have been joking about holding tempo with the opposite’s stolen base and residential run totals, respectively, since spring coaching.
On Monday, Chisholm playfully bragged that he was within the lead.
“I’m beating him,” the second baseman mentioned, noting that his 4 stolen bases are greater than Choose’s two. “You gotta add both. You know how they say OPS is on-base plus slug? Home runs plus stolen bases!”
Whereas the Yankees’ bats stung Lugo for 4 earned runs and 7 hits over 6.2 innings, Carlos Carrasco delivered his greatest begin with the pinstripers.
The veteran righty entered the sport with a 7.71 ERA, and it regarded as if that quantity would inflate after the 38-year-old walked two of the primary three hitters he confronted. However Carrasco rapidly discovered a groove, retiring 14 of the subsequent 15 Royals.
Requested what he noticed from Carrasco, Aaron Boone replied, “Moxie, man.”
“I thought his change was really good,” the supervisor continued. “Had good bottom to it. He was kind of working through his breaking balls as the night went on, and I thought he executed some good ones there.”
Carrasco’s solely mistake got here in opposition to Bobby Witt Jr., who hit a solo homer within the third inning. All in all, Carrasco totaled 5 innings, one hit, one earned run, two walks and 4 strikeouts over 79 pitches.
“A big five inning by him,” Boone added.
Carrasco, who now has a 5.94 ERA this season, additionally had some assist from Jasson Domínguez, who made a working, leaping catch within the fourth inning to rob Salvador Perez of additional bases on a line drive. It was a reasonably play for The Martian, who has had his justifiable share of struggles defensively however loved his strongest displaying in left subject but on Monday regardless of a busy night time.
“The more reps that I take, it feels more natural,” mentioned Domínguez, a pure heart fielder.
Boone was additionally happy with Domínguez’s efficiency, although he nonetheless had Cody Bellinger substitute the 22-year-old late within the sport for protection.
“He’s worked his butt off here for over two months now, every day, just reps out there,” Boone mentioned. “And I think there’s no greater teacher than experience. He’s done a lot of work out there, a lot of reps, a lot of innings. I’ve maintained the whole time he’s going to get really good out there. That’s my expectation for him.”
Jasson Dominguez goes again to make the catch! pic.twitter.com/4QxqLib4Ty
With the Yankees starting their three-game set on the appropriate observe, they’ll attempt to lock in a collection win as all of Main League Baseball celebrates Jackie Robinson Day on Tuesday.
Michael Wacha, one other pitcher the Yankees have had hassle with previously, will begin for Kansas Metropolis. Max Fried, contemporary off a superb outing in opposition to the Tigers, will take the ball for the Yankees.
Initially Printed: April 14, 2025 at 9:38 PM EDT
