Yankees Reactions: Cole dominated as the Yankees Sweep the Royals
New York has won 14 games against Kansas City, including back-t0-back season series sweeps
KANSAS CITY — The Yankees swept the Royals for the second time this season. The Yankees won 7-0, and are now 34-22 on the season. With the Rays being losers of four straight, the Yankees now sit just 1.5 games back in the AL East.
The Yankees rode another strong outing by Gerrit Cole earning his first win of the season, and their offense putting up good at-bats and seven runs. Sometimes you need a get-right series, and the Royals seem to always provide that to the Yankees.
The Turning Point
The Yankees were up 2-0 in the sixth inning and loaded the bases with no outs looking for more. After a sharp line out by Jose Caballero and a strikeout by the always struggling Austin Wells, there were two outs with the bases loaded for Paul Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt worked a long at-bat to earn a walk and an RBI. It lead to a two-run double by Rice, which gave the Yankees three big insurance runs in the sixth innings.
Game Notes & Takeaways
Mastery on the Mound: Gerrit Cole might be all the way back following his Tommy John surgery. Last time out, Cole spun six shutout innings, striking out two and walking three. This time out, he cut the walks out, dialed up the strikeouts and pitched six and two-thirds shutout innings against the Royals. His velocity was good as well in this outing, which is also encouraging.
Offensive Catalyst: Ben Rice continues to hit. He had three RBI’s in the game, a one-run triple and a two-run single. The two-run single gave the Yankees some much-needed insurance in the late innings. Rice also continues to hit the ball hard this season, and has been so impressive for the Yankees, an has really performed like a homegrown Juan Soto.
Injury & Roster Wire: Giancarlo Stanton had imaging done on his knee, according to Aaron Boone.
On the Horizon
The Yankees will have an off day tomorrow, traveling to West Sacramento to take on the Athletics. The Yankees will send out LHP Carlos Rodón (0-2, 4.15) against the A’s on Friday in the opener. The Athletics have not announced a starter. First pitch will be at 9:40pm on YES network.