The Yankees weren’t at their best, but they won anyway.
Alex Verdugo — whose inclusion in the starting lineup over Jasson Dominguez was controversial — delivered a go-ahead RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh inning en route to the Yankees’ 6-5 win.
They now own a 1-0 series lead ahead of Game 2 in The Bronx on Sunday.
Gleyber Torres also hit a home run, and the Yankees scored two other runs off walks.
Austin Wells tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning with an RBI-single.
On to Game 2.
‘I have amazing guys behind me. I don’t have to do too much right now!’ ’I haven’t gotten any sort of explanation.’#Royals manager Matt Quatraro discusses challenging Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s stolen base in the seventh inning #postseason#RepBxpic.twitter.com/WsyoKOOX3MGleyber Torres postgame reaction
By Jared Schwartz
Gleyber Torres speaks on how he was able to stay patient in the batter’s box tonight #RepBX#Postseasonpic.twitter.com/RkrWp1HxaMMatt Quatraro's postgame reaction
By Jared Schwartz
Aaron Boone stuck with Austin Wells in the cleanup spot despite the young catcher’s slump late in the season, and Wells came through in the first postseason game of his career with a game-tying hit in the bottom of the sixth of a 6-5 win over the Royals in Game 1 of the ALDS in The Bronx.
After Wells failed to deliver in the bottom of the first with runners on second and third and one out and then popped out to end the third, Wells walked to extend the fifth inning, during which the Yankees scored a pair of runs.
Then came the sixth, which started with a leadoff walk from Alex Verdugo, who moved to second on Juan Soto’s one-out single to right.
‘I was booing myself, too!’
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) October 6, 2024
Alex Verdugo talks about how he handled hearing constant criticism from fans during a rocky regular season #RepBX#Postseasonpic.twitter.com/V7WL3GCg6R
‘It’s sure not my size, my physique!’
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) October 6, 2024
Luke Weaver breaks down how he’s managed to seize the job as the #Yankees closer #postseason#RepBXpic.twitter.com/JD5qvgnHDw
Nobody was happy during the penultimate at-bat of the Yankees’ 6-5 win over the Royals in Game 1 of the ALDS.
Yankees reliever Luke Weaver — and since the end of the season, the team’s closer — struck out Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. in a dramatic eight-pitch battle.
Facing a full count, Weaver threw a 96-mph fastball that appeared to be below the strike zone.
The home plate ump got tired of hearing the chirping from the #Yankees dugout in the ninth #RepBx#Postseasonpic.twitter.com/B6k1kOqDSn
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) October 6, 2024
It took one pitch to know what kind of night it was going to be for Gerrit Cole.
Cole’s 96-mph fastball to kick off the Yankees postseason was popped to the right field warning track, where Juan Soto made the catch.
The next two batters hit the ball even harder — all three with an exit velocity above 102 miles per hour — but Aaron Judge made two catches, including a long run to the left-center-field wall.
‘They were on top of their game for sure.’
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) October 6, 2024
Gerrit Cole evaluates his Game 1 outing against the #Royals after the #Yankees took Game 1 of the ALDS #postseasonpic.twitter.com/uSGobT7iD8
Jazz Chisholm isn’t worried about the #Yankees losing momentum as Game 2 won’t take place until Monday #RepBxpic.twitter.com/jcbqJyaihA
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) October 6, 2024
Gerrit Cole did not pitch like an ace. Aaron Judge did not do anything about his postseason demons.
Only one of the Yankees’ Big Three stars — Juan Soto — came out to play in their first playoff game of 2024.
The Yankees won anyway because some of their most denigrated players of this season — take a bow Clay Holmes, Gleyber Torres and, especially, Alex Verdugo — rose up to keep a tense Division Series opener from becoming a regrettable one for the American League’s No. 1 seed.
The 6-5 victory was not a work of art. It was good enough to gain the lead in this best-of-five, helped by strong relief work, superb outfield defense and vital late-game two-out RBI singles by Austin Wells lefty-on-lefty in the sixth inning and Verdugo for the go-ahead hit in the seventh.
‘He’s played for L.A. and I don’t mean the Angels!’
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) October 6, 2024
Jazz Chisholm knew Alex Verdugo’s prioe experience in big cities would be valuable for the #Yankees in the #Postseason#RepBxpic.twitter.com/8RChNZ42G7
‘Electric.’
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) October 6, 2024
Juan Soto reacts to his first #postseason game with the #Yankees in The Bronx #RepBxpic.twitter.com/tNc203wb35
