Royals Tie Series Against Yankees with 4-2 Victory

The Kansas City Royals managed to even the American League Division Series with a 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday night. The Royals capitalized on a potent fourth inning to gather all their runs, supporting starting pitcher Cole Ragans, who struggled with control.

Ragans, a left-handed All-Star for the Royals, pitched for just 4.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits. During his outing, he issued four walks and recorded five strikeouts. Ragans’ departure paved the way for four Royals relievers, who collectively surrendered only one additional run for the remainder of the game.

On the offensive front, catcher Salvador Perez contributed significantly by hitting his first home run of the postseason. First baseman Yuli Gurriel went 1-for-4, and according to Cuban Baseball Insider Francys Romero, this performance has placed Gurriel 11th on the all-time list for most hits in postseason history with 90.

Reflecting on his illustrious career, the 40-year-old Gurriel has made appearances in the postseason in eight different years, previously with the Houston Astros and now with the Royals. Renowned for his batting prowess, Gurriel helped lead the Astros to World Series titles in both 2017 and 2022. This past postseason with Kansas City, Gurriel has been valuable after being acquired following a trade due to an injury to Royals’ player Vinnie Pasquantino in August.

Since joining the Royals, Gurriel has maintained a batting average of .241 over 18 games, driving in six RBIs as a steady veteran presence in their lineup. As the series stands leveled, both teams gear up for Game 3, scheduled for Wednesday night.

Coverage of this series is ongoing, with further insights available through Fastball On Sports Illustrated’s social media channels. Fans are encouraged to engage with updates and expert analysis from sports journalist Brady Farkas, known for his contributions to baseball commentary and his podcast ‘The Payoff Pitch.’

Published October 8, 2024.