New York Releases The Long Ball In Bounce Back Win Over Kansas City

Some nights you're clicking offensively and other nights you may not. 

After a rough night offensively in the opener  on Friday New York turned it on in game two of this three -game series against Kansas City on Saturday night. 

In an 8-3 victory over the Royals, New York hit five homers and put itself in position to capture an eighth consecutive series if the Yanks can find a way to win Sunday's rubber game at Kauffman Stadium. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-hit-5-homers-to-even-series-with-royals/c-277437454

The Royals had limited the Yankees to eight singles in the series opener, but New York was anything but quiet against starter Danny Duffy and the Royals' relief corps. The big blow was a go-ahead three-run homer by Gleyber Torres that put the Yanks up 5-2 in the fourth. Torres, who had a rough night defensively in the series opener, atoned in a big way. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-hit-5-homers-to-even-series-with-royals/c-277437454

"All-in-all, a good bounce-back night for us," manager Aaron Boone said. "[Gleyber] had a tough night [on Friday], but he doesn't flinch. He plays the game with a lot of confidence and is really good at it. So, I don't worry about him at all." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-hit-5-homers-to-even-series-with-royals/c-277437454

The homer binge started with Aaron Hicks' second inside-the-park homer this season and then came Torres' three-run shot. The Yankees tacked on late with two homers from Gary Sanchez and another by Giancarlo Stanton on what was the 500th extra-base hit of his career. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-hit-5-homers-to-even-series-with-royals/c-277437454

Sanchez, who now has 10 multi-homer games, including three this season, leads the club with 12 homers. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-hit-5-homers-to-even-series-with-royals/c-277437454

"The first few weeks, [Sanchez] didn't walk," Boone said. "What I'm seeing now is the patience. Then you get some mistakes, and Gary hits mistakes out of the park." "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-hit-5-homers-to-even-series-with-royals/c-277437454

The Yankees (29-13) are 20-4 since April 21. Starter Luis Severino worked six innings, allowing eight hits and three runs on 77 pitches. The bullpen was up to the task as Chad Green, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman logged scoreless innings.

SOUND SMART
With seven wins, Severino is well ahead of last year's pace. He didn't record his seventh victory of 2017 until July 26 en route to finishing third in the American League Cy Young Award voting. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-hit-5-homers-to-even-series-with-royals/c-277437454

HE SAID IT
"Last time, he had the headfirst slide at home. This time, he could have almost walked home." -- Boone, talking about Hicks' two inside-the-park homers this year "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-hit-5-homers-to-even-series-with-royals/c-277437454

MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
The Royals challenged an out call at the plate in the fifth inning when Mike Moustakas attempted to score from first on Salvador Perez's double to left-center. Moustakas was called out on shortstop Ronald Torreyes' relay throw home and the call was ruled to stand. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-hit-5-homers-to-even-series-with-royals/c-277437454

In the seventh, the Yankees challenged a safe call at first on Soler's bouncer deep behind third. After review, it was determined that Miguel Andujar's one-hop throw was in time and the call was overturned. "according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yanks-hit-5-homers-to-even-series-with-royals/c-277437454

With the win,  New York improves to 29-13 on the season and remains in first place in the American League East. Meanwhile with the loss, Kansas City who is a member of the American League Central drops to 14-31 in the regular season and is fourth in their division. "according to http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/

UP NEXT
Yankees right-hander Sonny Gray (2-3, 6.39 ERA) takes the mound on eight days' rest at 2:15 p.m. ET on Sunday for the series finale against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The long period between starts resulted due to off-days and postponements in Washington, D.C., earlier this week. Gray has faced Kansas City four times in his career and has a 2.77 ERA over 26 innings. The Royals will counter with left-hander Eric Skoglund, who worked a career-high 7 2/3 innings in a 2-1 loss to the Rays on Monday.