By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Royals issued eight walks and gave up the lead late in Game one of the ALDS, falling to the New York Yankees on Saturday 6-5 at Yankee Stadium.
The Royals would take an early lead in the second inning on a sacrifice fly from Tommy Pham that scored Yuli Gurriel, but one inning later the Yankees would take the lead as Gleyber Torres slammed a two run to right field, driving in Alex Verdugo to take the 2-1 lead.
But Kansas City would strike back in the fourth, a two run home run of their own off the bat of MJ Melendez, bringing Gurriel home for another run. The lead though would flip back and forth, changing hands again in the fifth, this time thanks to some pitching issues by the Royals.
To start the inning, Kansas City starting pitcher Michael Wacha would walk Torres, before being replaced by reliever Angel Zerpa, but it would not get any better. Zerpa surrendered a single to Juan Soto and walked Aaron Judge to load the bases. Another walk to Austin Wells would tie the game at 3-3, and chase Zerpa from the game in favor of John Schreiber.
Schrieber would quickly get two outs, getting a popout from Giancarlo Stanton and a ground out from Jazz Chisolm, where Gurriel would throw out Soto at home. But following an injury delay, due to Schreiber falling to the ground on the second out, Antony Volpe would draw a walk to bring home Judge and give New York the lead.
Again in the sixth inning the tides would turn in favor of the Royals, Garrett Hampson pinch hitting for Kyle Isbel and singling to drive in Gurriel and Pham. The Yankees wouldn't go away, tying the game up in the bottom half of the inning, Wells singling to drive in Verdugo.
New York would go on to take the lead for good in the seventh inning, after a controversial call at second where Chisolm appeared to have been thrown out but after review was still ruled safe, eventually coming home on a single from Verdugo for the 6-5 lead.
The Royals though would strike out in three of their last seven at bats, handing the Yankees the win and former Royal Luke Weaver his first save of the postseason.
Michael Lorenzen would take the loss in relief, giving up three hits and one run while striking out three from the bullpen. Both Melendez (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs) and Michael Massey (2-for-5) led the way hitting in the loss.
The Royals and Yankees will be back in action on Monday in Game 2 of the ALDS. Cole Ragans will start against Carlos Rodon with first pitch at 6:38pm, pregame will air at 6pm on KFEQ.