#Yankees win and take the series!
FINAL: #Yankees 7, Royals 3. #StartSpreadingTheNews pic.twitter.com/P6CknkuEho
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 13, 2016
A successful home-stand continues for the New York Yankees as the offense guided them to an impressive series win over the Kansas City Royals.
- Kansas City Royals: 3 (16-18)
- New York Yankees: 7 (14-19)
- American League, FINAL, Box Score
- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
35,944 fans at Yankee Stadium watched the Bronx Bombers take three out of four from the defending world champions and improve to 5-2 on their current 10 game home-stand. The series finale, and the series as a whole, saw a revamped offense expose a below average Kansas City staff.
The scoring started early for the Yanks with a dose of power. Starlin Castro went oppo-taco for a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning, and Chase Headley collected his first, I repeat first, extra base hit of 2016 with a two-run homer the opposite way in the second.
Starlin kicked off a home run party in the Bronx. https://t.co/rcb85SDvcn https://t.co/StHr0Cfi6f #LetsGoYankees
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 13, 2016
It is high, it is far, it is …
Chase Headley’s first extra-base hit of the 2016 season. pic.twitter.com/cad1djiTbA
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 13, 2016
Kansas City got two runs back in the fourth starting with an Alex Gordon 422 foot mammoth blast into the right-center field bleachers. Christian Colon singled in a run later in the frame to cut the lead in half.
Didi Gregorius was not satisfied with a one run lead, cracking a two-run bomb just shy of the bleachers in right in the home half of the fourth.
Didi crushed that one!!! #LetsGoYankees pic.twitter.com/OtoZyxvgfT
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 13, 2016
Yankee starter Nathan Eovaldi stumbled in the latter end of his outing and only lasted five innings, surrendering eight hits and three runs. However, the offensive output picked up the right-hander as he earned his third win. 64 of Nate’s 98 pitches were thrown for strikes. On the other side, former Yankee Ian Kennedy was pulled after getting knocked around in six and a third innings of work.
After Eovaldi’s departure, a 5-3 lead was held by Kirby Yates in the sixth, effectively bridging the gap to the back end of the ‘pen.
Remember Chien-Ming Wang? Another former Yankee came on in relief of Kennedy, only helping the Yanks buy some insurance. Wang allowed two inherited runners to score as the lead grew to 7-3.
This is the first time Chien-Ming Wang has ever pitched against the Yankees. He got pretty much no reception from the Yankee Stadium crowd.
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) May 13, 2016
That is how the score would stay. Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller each struck out a batter over two combined perfect innings (7th & 8th). Aroldis Chapman was warming in the bullpen, but the Yankees spared him and went with Chasen Shreve in the ninth in a four run game. Shreve proceeded to retire the side and complete a solid all around win for the club.
#Yankees win and take the series!
FINAL: #Yankees 7, Royals 3. #StartSpreadingTheNews pic.twitter.com/P6CknkuEho
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 13, 2016
The Wait Is Over:
For the first time this season, Chase Headley advanced past first base. His first extra base hit of the season came off Ian Kennedy, a two-run shot to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead.
Time between Chase Headley extra-base hits:
228 days
19,699,200 seconds
328,320 minutes
5472 hours
228 days
62.47% of a year— Ryan Hatch (@ryanhatch) May 12, 2016
Headley remains below the Mendoza line, but has shown signs of life. He has reached base safely in seven of his last ten games and is 5-17 (.294) in his last five. It certainly is not much, but at this point anything is an improvement for the Yankee third baseman.
You Are Not On The Mark, Teixeira:
Despite returning to the lineup, Mark Teixeira continues to struggle mightily. An 0-4 performance tonight dropped the slugger’s average to .194.
Heading into the game and prior to his minor injury, Tex was 3-24 (.125) with no RBIs in his last seven games. That awful stretch has continued. The Yankees just have to sit back and hope that their usual switch-hitting force in the middle of the order returns to prominence.
If their winning ways continue, the issue will not have to take forefront.
Injury Update:
Teixeira, as mentioned before, returned to the lineup today after sitting two games with neck spams. However, the Yankees are still waiting on Jacoby Ellsbury as his hip strain continues to drag out. The club seems to be waiting for the weekend for their leadoff hitter’s return.
Meanwhile, Joe Girardi is seemingly hopeful that he can get both Alex Rodriguez (hammy) and CC Sabathia (groin) back in the minimum 15 days.
Alex Rodriguez hit off a tee and did some running today. He says the test will be stopping and starting running, but is optimistic.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 12, 2016
What’s Next?
Rolling on their current home stand, the Yankees will welcome in the Chicago White Sox tomorrow night. One of the better early surprises in baseball, the White Sox sit five games atop the AL Central at 23-12 (.657).
Tomorrow night’s pitching matchup will feature Luis Severino (0-5, 6.12 ERA) and Chris Sale (7-0, 1.79 ERA).
Sale, one of the premier arms in baseball, is working on perhaps his best season yet in 2016. He possesses a 0.77 WHIP, has held opposing batters to a .165 clip, and has earned a victory in all seven of his starts. This will be no easy task for a Yankee lineup that typically struggles against left-handers.
In Severino’s case, he appears to be turning the corner after a dreadful start to his sophomore season. However, his ERA sits north of six and has not nearly found his command.
First pitch will be right around 7:05 pm from the Bronx with the game available to be seen on MLB Network (out-of-market) and the YES Network, and heard on 660 WFAN/101.9 FM.
