Yankees earn struggling win, 6-5, over Royals in ALDS game 1
New York and Kansas City battle back and forth in Yankees' first postseason game
It was the type of game that had fans ready to turn off the television. It was the type of game that had fans on the edge of their seat, focusing on nothing but their television. Yes, it was the best and worst of both worlds in the ALDS game one between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals with plenty of defensive errors, walks, and mistakes galore as both teams look to earn a series win in the best-of-five set between the two with a trip to the ALCS on the line.
Kansas City scored early with a Tommy Pham sacrifice fly, scoring a man who Bob Costas called the “Yankee Killer”, Yuli Gurriel, to score, opening a 1-0 Kansas City lead. Gurriel began his big league career in 2016 with the Houston Astros, and was part of a team in Houston that sent the Yankees home in the ALCS three times, in 2017, 2019 and 2022. Behind a cheating scandal that certainly affected the Astros’ 2017 world championship, and likely again in 2019, Gurriel became a huge centerpiece of controversy with all that were affected by the Astros’ saga, including Yankees fans.
Now 40-years old, he’s with Kansas City in one of - if not the - final season(s) of his career, looking to send the Yankees home in the playoffs for the fourth time of his career.
After Gurriel reached home on the second inning sac fly, Gleyber Torres unloaded for a two-run, go ahead home run, furthermore proving how he fits in the lead off spot for New York, setting the tone for some more power-driven hitters that come behind him, particularly Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, often being compared lately to Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.
Torres had a disappointing first half of the season, but he turned a ton of heads in September, the month that saw the most Torres at-bats with 108, gaining 36 hits and 13 RBI’s. Batting first in 2024, Torres has 67 hits and a .283 batting average, far better than any other spot he’s been in all year, which is every spot except for second and ninth. Now, when it matters most, the Yankees have his position in the order figured out, and he continues to prove manager Aaron Boone correct.
Speaking of positions, left field and first base were up for grabs before the postseason began, with many questioning which two out of a group of five would fill the spots on opposite ends of the diamonds. Would New York trust rookie Jasson Dominguez in left or revert back to Alex Verdugo? Would veteran Anthony Rizzo be healthy enough to bring his experience to first base, or would the Yankees need to rely on another rookie in Ben Rice? Or someone else?
In left field, the Yankees went with Alex Verdugo, a 2024 preseason acquistion. His play in left, and at the plate, in game one made the Yankees look really good, but it may not have been coincidence. Make no mistake, this is an Alex Verdugo that is more than ready to prove himself in the postseason. He played his first three seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team that lost back-to-back World Series’ to the ‘17 Astros and ‘18 Red Sox, two deep playoff runs that shared two things: losing in the World Series and not seeing any time for Alex Verdugo. He went on to join the Boston Red Sox in 2020, and he finally saw some playoff action in 2021, as Boston reached the ALCS and lost to Houston, amounting for 11 playoff games for Verdugo, the first 11 of his career despite his involvement in some really good playoff runs.
Now, Verdugo is the starting left fielder for the AL’s #1 overall seed in a position battle that involved one of baseball’s top young players, the ultimate show of faith from Aaron Boone. “Dugie”, as they call him, brings a lot of energy to the team, necessary for the playoffs, as the Pinstripes have faded in the postseason year after year, facing three ALCS losses to Houston since 2017, let alone other fall disappointments in the last seven seasons.
As for first base, the three man “race” was less of a race than a situation. If Anthony Rizzo was healthy enough to play the position for the ALDS, then he would.
Rizzo was hit by a pitch from Ryan Borucki on September 28 in the Yankees’ late regular season with Pittsburgh, injuring the fourth and fifth fingers in his right hand. While Rizzo has expressed his interest and optimism in returning for the ALCS, New York has to get there first, and someone needs to hold his place.
Ben Rizzo was the frontrunner, a rookie who’s been making trips between Scranton, PA and the Bronx, in between MiLB AAA play and the big leagues. In 152 at-bats, Rice drove in 23 runs of 26 hits, an impressive number from the limited sample size.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was that Rice was left off the ALDS roster, with Aaron Boone choosing Oswaldo Cabrera, who has more credibility defensively, but perhaps a bite of the bullet from New York on the offensive upside.
Cabrera saved some infield errors with a good glove, but went 1-for-4 with three strikeouts.
In any event, New Yorkers will take a sigh of relief if they get to see Rizzo, a 2016 World Series champion, back in the corner.
The Yankees get another outing at Yankee Stadium again on Monday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:38 on TBS.