New York Yankees 11 – Kansas City Royals 6
Lyle Overbay drove in five in tonight’s 11-6 win over the Kansas City Royals. This is Joe Girardi’s 500th career win as Yankees manager.
The Yankees struck quickly against Royals starter Wade Davis. In the second inning, Travis Hafner led off with a walk. On the first pitch, Ichiro Suzuki would hit a two-run home run into right field. Jayson Nix would follow with a double and Lyle Overbay would start his great night right with a two-run home run of his own. For Ichiro, it was his second home run of the season and Overbay hit his sixth home run.
After receiving a four-run lead, Phil Hughes may have returned to an unwelcomed form. In Hughes’ previous three starts, he did not give up any home runs, tonight was different. With two on and two out, Jarrod Dyson would take Hughes deep for a three-run home run, taking out a big chunk of the early lead.
Lyle Overbay would bring home the next run of the game following a walk of Jayson Nix in the fourth inning to give the Yankees a two-run lead. Unfortunately, Hughes would actually lose the lead when the Royals’ best hitter, Alex Gordon, would come through with a two-run double in the fifth inning, tying the game.
After a pair of hits led off the sixth inning, starter Wade Davis would exit the game for left-handed pitcher Bruce Chen to try and face Lyle Overbay. The Yankees first baseman would succeed despite facing a left-hander with a run-scoring double. Chris Nelson would follow with a two-run single as the Yankees would break open the game. Brett Gardner would hit a run-scoring triple and Robinson Cano would also bring in a run in the five-run sixth inning. The Yankees would 10-5 lead by the time the inning had ended.
Phi Hughes would give up one more home run in the bottom half of the inning. For Hughes, he went 5.2 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits with two home runs. Not a good start or a quality one, but with the run support, it was enough. The reliever that took over made it a lot more comforting for Hughes that his second win of the season would be easily on its way.
To get the last out of the sixth inning, Joe Girardi would turn to Shawn Kelley. The right-handed reliever would get the last out via a swinging strikeout. In a familiar, dominant theme, Kelley would strike out the next four, making it five consecutive; four of the strikeouts were swinging. A groundout would end the streak but Kelley did not lose momentum and would strikeout the last batter he faced. In 2.1 innings, Kelley faced seven batters and struck out six of them.
Lyle Overbay would cap off his night and the win with his fifth RBI of the night in the ninth inning. Ichiro Suzuki, Lyle Overbay, and Jayson Nix would go 9 for 13 with eight runs scored, seven runs driven in, on four doubles and two home runs.
Win – Phil Hughes (2-2)
Loss – Wade Davis (2-3)
Notables
Yankees
*Lyle Overbay – 4 for 5, 2 R, 2 2B, 2-Run Home Run (6) in the 2nd, 5 RBI (20)
*Ichiro Suzuki – 3 for 5, 2 R, 2B, 2-Run Home Run (2) in the 2nd, RBI (8)
Royals
*Jarrod Dyson – 1 for 3, R, 3-Run Home Run (1) in the 2nd, 3 RBI (6)
*Alex Gordon – 2 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI (27)
Current Yankees Record: 21-13
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