Homer-happy Yankees mash Royals
Sanchez hits two of New York’s five HRs; Severino improves to 7-1
Kansas City, Mo. — Gary Sanchez hit two of the Yankees’ five home runs, Gleyber Torres had a three-run shot and New York rebounded from a series-opening loss to pound the Kansas City Royals 8-3 on Saturday night. Aaron Hicks and Giancarlo Stanton also homered for the Yankees, while Luis Severino (7-1) scattered three runs on eight hits and two walks over six innings to run his unbeaten streak to seven.
The right-hander is 5-0 with two no-decisions since losing to Boston on April 10.
Danny Duffy (1-6) once again threw batting practice for the Royals, allowing the five runs on seven hits and three walks in four innings. It was the fifth time in six starts Duffy has allowed at least four runs, and he still has yet to complete seven innings in a game this season.
The Yankees will go for their eighth consecutive series win today.
Things began badly for Duffy when Hicks led off the game with a single and Gary Sanchez drove him in with a two-out double. They got worse when Hicks bounced a long fly ball off the top off the wall to lead off the third, and he cruised into home with his second inside-the-park homer this season.
Duffy’s unraveling came after the Royals answered with two runs in the bottom half.
Clint Frazier, making his season debut, drew a leadoff walk in the fourth. Ronald Torreyes followed with a single, and Torres promptly crushed a 407-foot homer over the left-field bullpen.
Kansas City tried to answer again in the fifth, when Mike Moustakas drove in Ryan Goins with a two-out single. Salvador Perez followed with a double to left, but Moustakas was thrown out in a close play at the plate — replays appeared to show him safe, but the call stood after a video review.
Sanchez tacked on his first homer in the seventh, and Stanton and Sanchez went back-to-back in the ninth. Stanton’s mammoth shot landed in the fountains, where a fan appeared to dive in after it.
What’s in a name
Torres batted ninth for the Yankees, right behind Torreyes in the order. INF Ramon Torres was on the other bench for the Royals after he was recalled Saturday. Umpire Carlos Torres handled first base.
Trainer’s room
Yankees: 1B Greg Bird (right ankle surgery) and OF Billy McKinney (left shoulder sprain) could head to Triple-A Scranton to continue their rehab. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said both players at Double-A Trenton are close to returning . ... RHP Tommy Kahnle (right shoulder tendinitis) is expected to pitch for Class-A Tampa today and could rejoin the Yankees next week in Texas.
Royals: INF Cheslor Cuthbert went on the disabled list retroactive to Wednesday with a lower back strain. Torres was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to fill his roster spot.
More on Sanchez
The Yankees’ catcher also doubled in the first and singled in the third to finish a triple short of the cycle, his second career four-hit game. It was also his third multi-homer game this season.
Up next
The Yankees send RHP Sonny Gray (2-3, 6.39 ERA) to the mound against Royals LHP Eric Skoglund (1-3, 5.58 ERA) for today’s series finale. Gray will be pitching on eight days’ rest.