The New York Yankees pulled off a dramatic 4-3 extra-inning win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night, sealing the victory with Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s game-winning infield single in the 11th inning. Chisholm’s sharply hit grounder to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. forced a diving stop, but Witt’s throw to home sailed wide, allowing pinch-runner Jon Berti to cross the plate for the decisive run.
Juan Soto had earlier sparked the Yankees’ offense with a pivotal go-ahead home run in the sixth inning. The win extended New York’s slim lead in the AL East to 1 1/2 games over the Baltimore Orioles, a margin that has remained razor-thin since August 21.
Throughout the night, the Yankees‘ offense struggled to capitalize on opportunities, managing just six hits over 11 innings and rarely advancing runners into scoring position. Their first real scoring chance with a runner at second base didn’t occur until the seventh inning, which ended abruptly when Jose Trevino grounded into a double play. Despite facing strong Royals pitching, the Yankees made the most of their limited offensive chances.
Manager Aaron Boone praised his team’s resilience, noting the collective effort that fueled the victory. The win, in front of 40,908 fans at Yankee Stadium, improved the Yankees’ record to 84-62 and set an encouraging tone as they prepare for a crucial four-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
Chisholm’s late-game exploit gives Yankees win over KC
The Yankees showcased their late-game execution with Jon Berti, serving as the automatic runner, advancing to third on Juan Soto’s grounder. After Aaron Judge was intentionally walked, Chisholm Jr. hit a sharp ground ball to the left side. Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. made a diving stop, but his throw to the plate sailed wide, allowing Berti to score the winning run and sparking a Yankees celebration on the field.
Chisholm said his goal was simply to keep the inning alive and pass the baton to his teammates. He was thrilled to end up with the game-winner, celebrating with the team as he rounded first base. Reflecting on the moment, Chisholm was struck by the electric atmosphere at Yankee Stadium, especially after Tommy Kahnle’s clutch strikeout of Paul DeJong in the eighth inning. The young star expressed his excitement for October baseball, noting the playoff-like intensity in the current games.
“The whole crowd erupted,” he’s said. “This is sick. It ain’t even October yet. I can’t wait.”
Yankees bullpen fends off Royals’ comeback effort
Luke Weaver played a crucial role in the Yankees’ victory, delivering a strong top of the 11th inning. He retired Michael Massey on a flyout and struck out both Paul DeJong and Maikel Garcia, stranding the ghost runner at second base. Weaver’s emotional exit from the mound underscored the high stakes of his performance.
Manager Aaron Boone praised the bullpen’s outstanding effort, highlighting their work across six innings, yielding just two runs—one of which was unearned. With Clay Holmes allowing the game-tying run in the seventh, the bullpen mix is shifting, with Weaver and Jake Cousins stepping into key late-inning roles.
The Yankees struggled offensively against Royals lefty Cole Ragans until the sixth inning. In a tense moment, Juan Soto fouled a pitch off his right foot after Gleyber Torres drew a walk, visibly wincing in pain and requiring attention from the medical staff. Soto, still clearly hurting, continued the at-bat, later admitting he was battling significant discomfort as he stepped back into the batter’s box.
The Yankees’ game against the Royals took a dramatic twist in the sixth inning when Juan Soto, battling through the pain of fouling a pitch off his foot, launched a towering two-run homer. The blast, Soto’s 39th of the season, came off a 2-2 knuckle curve, sending the ball deep into the right field seats and momentarily putting the Yankees ahead.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with the Yankees overcoming an early deficit thanks to Soto’s clutch hit, only to have the Royals fight back with timely offense and strong defensive plays.
Clay Holmes, who recently lost his role as the Yankees’ closer, struggled in the seventh inning. Singles by Kyle Isbel and Tommy Pham set the stage for the Royals to tie the game, as two flyouts allowed Isbel to score. Holmes’ shaky outing drew boos from the home crowd at Yankee Stadium.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Yankees nearly regained control. With Anthony Volpe on second and Oswaldo Cabrera pinch-running for Anthony Rizzo at first, the Yankees attempted a double steal. Jose Trevino’s chopper to first led to an impressive defensive play by Salvador Perez, who tagged Trevino and fired a strike to catcher Freddy Fermin at home, nailing Volpe in a diving attempt to score.
The game remained tied into extra innings, thanks to solid pitching performances by Tommy Kahnle and Jake Cousins. In the 10th inning, both teams managed to push a run across. The Royals took a brief lead on a wild pitch from Cousins, but the Yankees quickly answered when pinch-hitter Austin Wells delivered a sacrifice fly down the left-field line, allowing Volpe to score from third and keep the game knotted.
The Yankees showcased their versatility in a series win that leaned on strategic, small-ball play rather than their typical power hitting. Manager Aaron Boone underscored the importance of the victory, lauding his team for overcoming the challenges presented by the Royals’ tough pitching staff.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., batting cleanup for only the second time since joining the Yankees from the Marlins in late July, delivered the game-winning hit, marking his first career walk-off. Teammates celebrated by mobbing Chisholm near second base, showering him with water as the crowd erupted.
Chisholm reflected on his pivotal at-bat, saying he was looking for a pitch to drive into the gaps or elevate to the outfield, aiming to bring home the runner from third. He emphasized his patient approach, ready to work the count if necessary, and expressed his excitement about contributing to the Yankees’ championship pursuit.
“Honestly, I was looking for a pitch that I could get through a hole or get to the outfield to score anybody on third base,” he explained. “I was willing to pass the baton if I didn’t get a pitch to hit. I think it’s going to be amazing. I’m going to go out there and play my heart out every day. I’m going to leave it all out there until we get that ring.”
Boone praised Chisholm’s composure under pressure, noting that the young slugger resisted the urge to do too much and focused on making solid contact. Boone highlighted Chisholm’s ability to put the ball in play just past the outstretched glove of Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., calling it a textbook example of a clutch at-bat.
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