Today the New York Yankees went for the win of the series, a rubber game for both teams at 2:10 pm EDT. The Yankees had no pitcher available for the game, so they put together a bullpen game led by Lucas Luetge as an opener in his first-ever major league start and other relievers to get the win. Before the game, the Yankees announced that yet another Yankee, Clay Holmes, was put on the Covid list. The Yankees won the series and today’s game 5-2.
As in many games, DJ LeMahieu headed up a lineup missing several regular players, including newly acquired Anthony Rizzo. Brady Singer was on the mound for the Royals facing LeMahieu, who walked on five pitches. Brett Gardner struck out. Aaron Judge singled to centerfield. Joey Gallo walked to load the bases with Yankees. Luke Voit singled to right center, scoring LeMahieu and Judge. With men on the corners and still only one out, Odor lined out to left, scoring Gallo. Andrew Velaquez ground into a double play, but the Yankees got the 3 run early lead.
At the bottom of the first inning, Lucas Luetge started his first major league game by facing Whit Merrifield, who singled up the middle. Merrifield stole second for his 33rd straight stolen base. Nicky Lopez flew out to Tyler Wade playing in left field. Salvador Perez ground out with Merrifield scoring. Andrew Benintendi struck out swinging. New York Yankees 3 Kansas City Royals 1.
The second inning was led off by Tyler Wade, who struck out swinging. Rob Brantly singled up the middle. LeMahieu singled to left, moving Brantly to second with one out. Gardner, who has had a .380 OBP of late, flew out to the warning track in center with LeMahieu moving to third base. Judge popped out to second the end the half leaving two on base. At the bottom, Hunter Dozier singled off Velaquez’s glove at short. Ryan O’Hearn flew out to left. Michael Taylor flew out to right. Hunter Dozier stole second. Emmanuel Rivera flew out to left. Yankees 3 Royals 1.
Joey Gallo led off the third inning for the Yankees and walked. Voit followed by hitting into a 6-4-3 double play. Odor doubled to the left-field wall. Velaquez ground out to first. The bottom saw the new Yankee pitcher Albert Abreu facing Cam Galagher, who struck out looking. Merrifield singled again, this one to left. The Yankees were watching for him to steal again. However, Abreu balked with Merrifield moving to second. Lopez ground out to short, Merrifield advanced to third. Perez struck out swinging. Yankees 3 Royals 1.
The fourth inning was led off by Tyler Wade, who had a lead-off stand-up double to right. Brantly flew out to right. Wade stole third base. LeMahieu went up the middle, scoring Wade. Gardner ripped one to the center, moving LeMahieu to second. Judge hit one to center, scoring Brandly with Gardner being called out at third. That was the end of it for starter Singer. Next, Richard Lovelady faced Gallo, who made a sky-high out to shallow center.
At the bottom of the fourth, with Abreu still on the mound, Benintendi ground out. Dozier singled in front of Gardner in the center. O’Hearn singled to center. Taylor, with two on and one out, went down swinging. Rivera went down swinging and leaving two Royals on base. New York Yankees 5 Kansas City 1.
Luke Voit led off the fifth by striking out. Odor had an infield pop out. Velaquez singled through the left field and attempted to steal second, made it, but over slid the base for the final out. At the bottom, Gallagher got a lead-off double down the left-field line against Abreu. Merrifield flew out to left, but Wade made the diving catch. Gallagher moved to third. Joely Rodriguez replaced Abreu and faced Lopez, who reached on an E6 with Gallagher scoring. Perez hit into a double play ending the inning. Yankees 5 Royals 2.
Tyler Wade led off the sixth inning against Domingo Tapia and walked. Brantly skied to left for the first out. Wade stole second and reached third on an E2. LeMahieu struck out, and Gardner lined out directly to first base. Benintendi led off the bottom and walked against J-Rod, ending his day. Dozier faced Chad Green and struck out swinging. O’Hearn struck out looking. Taylor popped out to Voit. Yankees 5 Royals 2.
The seventh inning was led off by Aaron Judge against Jake Brentz and went down on strikes. Gallo flew out to left. Voit went down looking for a 1-2-3 inning for Brentz. At the bottom, Rivera popped out to second. Gallagher reached on a throwing error by Odor overthrowing Voit. Merrifield singled before Wade in left. Gallagher went to third on the play. On his 34th stolen base attempt, Merrifield was called out by Velaquez, which was upheld upon review. Lopez went down swinging. New York Yankees 5 Royals 2.
With Greg Holland on the mound for the eighth, Odor flew out to center. Velaquez popped out. Wade doubled for the second time in the game. Brantly ground out to end the half. At the bottom, Perez against Jonathan Loaisiga, the Yankee’s fifth pitcher, ground out to Wade, then playing third. Benintendi ground out to second. Dozier struck out swinging as Loaisiga put down the Royals in order. New York Yankees 5 Royals 2.
At the top of the ninth, it was the top of the lineup for the Yankees. LeMahieu faced Ervin Santana and ground out to short. Gardner flew out to the centerfield wall. Judge ground out to third to end the half. Zack Britton came for the Yankees to close it out. O’Hearn got hit in the back by Britton. Taylor with O’Hearn on first singled, but O’Hearn was out at second. Rivera reached on another Yankee error the third of the game an E5 on Odor. Santana hit into a double play bringing the Yankees another series win, their eleventh off the Royals.
The final score was the New York Yankees 5 and the Kansas City Royals 2. The winning pitcher was Chad Green; the loser was Brady Singer. Zack Britton got his first save of the year.