The Yankees entered this weekend winless in their past three series. Their lineup was an issue in dropping a series against the A’s; their fielding a problem in a sweep in Tampa; their pitching (and particularly the bullpen) exposed while splitting a set against the Angels.
And then the Royals arrived for a get-right series after which the Yankees sure look a lot more right.
The Yankees finished a demolition of the worst team the American League has to offer with a 7-0 smacking Sunday in front of an announced Bronx crowd of 40,198, whose beverages should have been free after sticking through a 2-hour, 45-minute weather delay at the start.
Aaron Boone’s group (13-9) completed a 5-2 homestand that began with too many home runs served up against the Angels and ended with nine launched against the Royals (7-15).
Aaron Judge, Ben Rice and Trent Grisham all went deep in the finale to back Ryan Weathers (7 ¹/₃ scoreless innings) and inspire some confidence ahead of a nine-game road trip through Boston, Houston and Texas. The final tally from three games involving teams from New York and Kansas City: an NFL-like 24-7.
Among the issues the Yankees faced just a few days ago was their offensive firepower against lefty pitchers, against whom they owned the majors’ second-worst OPS (.535) entering this weekend. That number has ballooned after they teed off Saturday against Noah Cameron and Sunday against Cole Ragans, southpaws who allowed a combined 14 runs in 8 ¹/₃ innings.
Among the issues the Yankees faced just a few days ago was Boone’s management of Rice, who has been coming off the bench frequently against lefty pitchers.
Sunday, what had been metaphorical became literal: Rice leapfrogged a few spots in the order and jumped in front of Judge as the leadoff man against Ragans. The Yankees one-two punch throughout the first weeks became their Nos. 1 and 2 hitters for the afternoon. They kept punching.
In the first inning, Rice worked a walk and Judge followed with a first-pitch trip to Monument Park an estimated 425 feet away, Judge’s ninth of the season and sixth in eight games. Remember that talk about his slow start? Through 22 games, the Yankees captain is on pace for 66 homers.
After showing off their power, the Yankees used patience to score again in the frame, three walks and an Austin Wells sacrifice fly adding a third run against Ragans.
An inning later, it was Rice’s turn to do damage against a lefty and further force his way into the everyday starting lineup, turning on an inside fastball from Ragans and visiting the short porch for a solo shot. He has swatted four dingers in as many games and is up to eight on the season.
Judge’s and Rice’s 17 combined home runs are the most by any duo in the sport, one more than the entire Mets team (16) and four more than the Red Sox (13), whom the Yankees will see beginning Tuesday in Boston.
The Yankees finished with only seven hits Sunday, but three left the park and they created traffic with 10 walks.
Any hint of drama essentially ended in the bottom of the fifth, which began with Cody Bellinger reaching on what was ruled as a double but should have been caught, Kansas City left fielder Isaac Collins and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. unsure who would catch a bloop down the line. After Paul Goldschmidt walked, Grisham reversed a high fastball and flung it to the second deck in right field, creating a cushion that Weathers did not need.
Weathers bounced back from a five-inning, four-homer outing against the Angels and limited the Royals to five hits and one walk with eight strikeouts while pitching into the eighth inning. Each start from Weathers, who lowered his ERA to 3.18, matters at a time when Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are getting closer and the Yankees will have to clear two rotation spots.
Against the Royals, the lefty Weathers looked right.