Yankees rout Royals, lose Judge to wrist injury
>> NEW YORK: Didi Gregorius hit a threerun homer in the fourth inning, but the New York Yankees lost Aaron Judge to a wrist injury in a 7-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Thursday at Yankee Stadium.
Gregorius helped the Yankees win on a night when they lost Judge in the fourth inning after he was hit by a pitch in the first inning. Judge is expected to miss at least three weeks, as the team announced he sustained a chip fracture in his right wrist. No surgery was recommended.
Judge’s injury spoiled a day when the Yankees acquired JA Happ from the Toronto Blue Jays for Brandon Drury and Billy McKinney and activated Zach Britton after acquiring him from the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday.
Kyle Gibson pitched eight strong innings, leading Minnesota past hosts Boston 2-1 in the opener of a fourgame series.
Twins closer Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 22nd save of the season, though not without some drama.
Boston’s Xander Bogaerts led off the bottom of the ninth with a linedrive single to center and advanced to second on Steve Pearce’s groundout. Rodney got Rafael Devers to foul out before Blake Swihart and Brock Holt walked to load the bases. Rodney fell behind in the count 3-0 to Jackie Bradley Jr before striking him out to end it.
David Bote tied the game with a one-out, two-run home run in the ninth inning against Arizona closer Brad Boxberger, and Anthony Rizzo followed with a walk-off blast as host Chicago rallied for three runs to record a dramatic 7-6 win.
Nick Ahmed belted his first career grand slam in the fifth inning to give the Diamondbacks a 6-1 lead, but the Cubs did the rest of the scoring to earn a split in the four-game series.
Ben Zobrist opened the last of the ninth with a walk. Boxberger (1-4) then got Javier Baez to line out before Bote hit an 0-2 pitch over the fence in centre field to tie the game.
Rich Hill threw seven shut-out innings and continued his mastery against hosts Atlanta, pitching Los Angeles to an 8-2 victory.
Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado, acquired from the Baltimore Orioles, hit his first home run withith his new team in the win.