New York Yankees win/ Yankees vs Royals recap/ Yankees victory over Royals/ Newslooks/ NEW YORK/ Austin Wells hit a clutch three-run homer in the seventh inning and added an RBI double as the New York Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals 10-4. Wells’ power surge helped the Yankees extend their lead in the AL East, while Aaron Judge contributed with a key RBI single.
Yankees Beat Royals: Quick Looks
- Austin Wells’ Big Night: Three-run homer in the 7th, four RBIs overall.
- Aaron Judge Contributes: Tied the game with a key RBI single.
- Yankees Extend AL East Lead: Now 1.5 games ahead of the Orioles.
- Kansas City Woes: Royals lose their sixth straight road game.
Austin Wells’ Heroics Lift Yankees Over Royals 10-4
Deep Look
The New York Yankees continued their push in the AL East standings with a 10-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night, highlighted by a go-ahead three-run homer from Austin Wells in the seventh inning. The rookie catcher had a stellar game, driving in four runs total, including a late RBI double, to help the Yankees pull away.
Wells’ pivotal home run came after Aaron Judge tied the game with an RBI single off James McArthur. Four pitches later, Wells launched a 404-foot blast into the right field seats, giving the Yankees a 7-4 lead and igniting a rally that saw them score seven unanswered runs.
“I was looking for something inside,” Wells said. “I got a pitch and put a good swing on it.”
After watching the ball sail into the bleachers, Wells celebrated with a bat flip and a yell toward the dugout, acknowledging the excitement of the moment. “I was jacked. I blacked out,” he added.
Wells’ homer was his seventh in the past 37 games, and he has continued to solidify his role as the Yankees’ cleanup hitter, batting behind Judge. Manager Aaron Boone praised Wells’ approach at the plate, stating, “Whether or not he gets the result, he gives us a great at-bat every time.”
Judge and Wells Power Late-Inning Comeback
The Royals took a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning with a solo home run from Hunter Renfroe, but the Yankees responded with a big rally in the seventh. Gleyber Torres reached on an infield single, and Juan Soto walked, setting the stage for Judge’s game-tying single and Wells’ three-run homer.
Torres later added an RBI single in the eighth, and Wells capped the scoring with an RBI double off the left-field wall, sealing the Yankees’ 13th double-digit scoring game of the season.
Kansas City’s Early Lead Fades
The Royals jumped out to an early lead, thanks to Salvador Perez, who went 4 for 4 and drove in three of Kansas City’s four runs. Perez singled in a run in the first inning, homered in the third for a 2-0 lead, and tied the game 3-3 in the fifth after a fielding miscommunication between Torres and Soto.
Despite Perez’s performance, Kansas City couldn’t maintain the lead. James McArthur (5-7) allowed four runs in the seventh, and the Royals ultimately dropped their sixth consecutive road game, falling further behind in the AL Central race.
“We liked his matchup, but he wasn’t able to finish them off tonight,” said Royals manager Matt Quatraro about McArthur’s struggles in the seventh inning.
Yankees Bullpen Shuts Down Royals
Carlos Rodón pitched six innings, allowing four runs (three earned), but the Yankees’ bullpen took control in the late innings. Jake Cousins (2-1) picked off a runner in the seventh, Luke Weaver escaped a jam in the eighth, and Ian Hamilton pitched a clean ninth in his first appearance since June 16.
Brady Singer, Kansas City’s starter, gave up three runs on five hits over five innings before giving way to the bullpen, which couldn’t hold the lead.
Trainer’s Room
The Yankees placed DJ LeMahieu on the 10-day injured list due to a hip impingement, which may sideline him for the rest of the season. Jon Berti was activated after missing 90 games with a left calf strain.
Up Next
Seth Lugo (15-8, 3.08 ERA) will start for the Royals on Tuesday, facing the Yankees’ Marcus Stroman (10-7, 4.03 ERA).
