Alex Verdugo played hero for the New York Yankees in a back-and-forth contest against the Kansas City Royals, delivering a go-ahead single in the seventh inning and making a crucial defensive play, securing a 6-5 victory for the Yankees in Game 1 of their American League Division Series on Saturday night.
The game featured dramatic twists, with the Yankees and Royals trading leads five times—a first in postseason history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Both teams had their chances, but ultimately, it was Verdugo’s clutch hitting and timely defense that made the difference.
The game started with the Royals taking an early 1-0 lead, but the Yankees quickly answered, jumping ahead 2-1. Gleyber Torres smashed a two-run homer to give New York the lead, only for Kansas City’s MJ Melendez to respond with a two-run shot of his own, pushing the Royals back in front 3-2. The Yankees and Royals continued to trade punches, with New York briefly leading 4-3 before the Royals surged ahead 5-4 in the sixth.
However, the seventh inning proved decisive. Jazz Chisholm Jr. led off with a single, stole second, and after a video review upheld the call, Verdugo delivered a crucial single off Royals pitcher Michael Lorenzen. This hit broke a 5-5 tie, scoring Chisholm and putting the Yankees ahead for good. Despite being in a 3-for-25 slump, Verdugo’s manager, Aaron Boone, chose to start him in left field over rookie Jasson Domínguez, prioritizing defense—and the decision paid off.
With the Yankees trailing 3-2 earlier in the game, Verdugo’s glove made a significant impact. In the fourth inning, he made a sliding catch down the left-field line on a fly ball from Michael Massey, stranding two Royals runners. The play required quick reflexes, as the ball bounced off the heel of Verdugo’s glove before he snagged it barehanded, preventing further damage and keeping the Yankees within striking distance.
After Gerrit Cole struggled through five innings, allowing five runs and expressing frustration with his performance, the Yankees’ bullpen stepped up. Four relievers combined to give up just one unearned run over the final four innings. Clay Holmes, who had been demoted from the closer role, pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win. Luke Weaver followed with four straight outs to record the save in his first-ever postseason appearance, sealing the win for New York.
The Royals had their chances, but eight walks—tying their season high—proved costly, as two walks in the fifth inning forced in a pair of Yankees runs. Yuli Gurriel, Kansas City’s first baseman, made impressive defensive plays, throwing out runners at the plate in the first and fifth innings, but the pitching staff’s control issues ultimately hurt their chances.
Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. went 0 for 5, including a contentious called third strike in the ninth inning that led to a heated exchange with plate umpire Adam Hamari. Meanwhile, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge also struggled, going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., acquired from Miami at the trade deadline, was a standout at third base, despite being new to the position this season. He made three key defensive plays, including two in tandem with first baseman Oswaldo Cabrera, who started in place of the injured Anthony Rizzo. Chisholm’s contributions on both sides of the ball were vital to the Yankees’ victory.
After a day off, the Yankees and Royals will resume their ALDS battle on Monday night. The series pits the AL-best Yankees against the wild-card Royals, reigniting a rivalry that saw these two teams face off in the playoffs four times between 1976 and 1980. The Yankees won the first three series, but the Royals swept them in their last postseason encounter in 1980.
With momentum on their side after the Game 1 win, the Yankees will aim to take a commanding lead in the series. Meanwhile, the Royals hope to bounce back and even things up as they seek to extend their postseason run.
