New York Sweeps Kansas City In The Doubleheader
New York won not just one game but two as they played their doubleheader against Kansas City.
In the first game it was first baseman Luke Voit who helped New York top Kansas City.
Voit mashed the longest home run of his career, a 470-foot blast to left field, to break a seventh-inning tie and lift the Yankees to a 7-3 victory over the Royals in the first game of a split-admission doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-powers-yankees-to-win-in-game-1
"To hit probably the farthest home run I've ever hit in front of them was pretty surreal," Voit said. "I was on cloud nine in that at-bat. This stadium is one of my more favorite stadiums to play in; it's a pretty cool stadium. It's fun to do it here in front of family and friends."“according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-powers-yankees-to-win-in-game-1
The deep drive served as the Bombers' response after Whit Merrifield slugged a three-run homer in the sixth inning, interrupting an otherwise stellar effort from J.A. Happ, who struck out a season-high 10 batters and retired 16 of the first 17 Royals he faced. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-powers-yankees-to-win-in-game-1
"I think I just pitched with a little better tempo," Happ said. "I’d like to say the confidence is always there, but it’s also nice to get some results. I feel like I am at my best when my tempo is a little quicker. I felt like today I was moving along and rebounding and just moving onto the next pitch a little better."“according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-powers-yankees-to-win-in-game-1
Facing reliever Scott Barlow in the seventh inning, Aaron Hicks stroked a one-out single and Voit pounced on an 0-1 slider, crushing the Yankees' longest home run since Gary Sánchez hit a 479-foot homer in Game 2 of last year’s American League Division Series at Fenway Park. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-powers-yankees-to-win-in-game-1
It was the Yanks’ longest regular-season homer since Aaron Judge (471 feet) last May 23. Voit knew that it was gone, permitting himself a few extra beats to track its flight as it cleared the visiting bullpen in left field. Voit was so enthralled that he neglected to go into his Sammy Sosa-style home run hop. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-powers-yankees-to-win-in-game-1
"I didn't mean anything bad, but it's one of those where you hit it, you don't really hit those very often," Voit said. "Everyone was like, 'Why didn't you do the hop?' I was like, 'I don't know!'" “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-powers-yankees-to-win-in-game-1
It was a particularly meaningful moment for Voit, who was drafted by the Royals out of high school in 2009 but did not sign. The Cardinals selected him four years later out of Missouri State. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-powers-yankees-to-win-in-game-1
"He’s brought so much to the table for us," manager Aaron Boone said. "Obviously between the lines, he’s been really good. He’s loved coming here and being a Yankee. They love him in that room. He brings something to the park every day, just from an energy standpoint. We’re lucky to have him." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-powers-yankees-to-win-in-game-1
The Yankees managed three runs in six innings against Royals starter Jakob Junis. Clint Frazier provided Happ with a near-instant lead with a two-run double in the first inning, and Gio Urshela lifted a sixth-inning sacrifice fly into foul territory down the right-field line that allowed Brett Gardner to score. “according to
Thairo Estrada added a two-run double in the eighth, allowing extra breathing room as Luis Cessa recorded the final six outs. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-powers-yankees-to-win-in-game-1
"The offense has been huge the last week; really, the whole season," Happ said. "We’ve put up some runs lately. It’s fun to see, that’s for sure." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-powers-yankees-to-win-in-game-1
Voit, who finished the afternoon 2-for-5 with two runs scored, has been a crucial and consistent presence as the Yankees weather a barrage of early-season injuries.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-powers-yankees-to-win-in-game-1
Voit noted that since the trade that delivered him to New York last July, he has hardly had the opportunity to play alongside Didi Gregorius, Judge, Sánchez and Giancarlo Stanton all at the same time, outside of last year's postseason.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-powers-yankees-to-win-in-game-1
"I'm super anxious for those guys to get back," Voit said. "I might be able to see a little bit more fastballs than I'm seeing. I'm obviously excited to get those back, but at the end of the day, this team is a lot of fun. It's the most fun team I've played on, for sure." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/luke-voit-powers-yankees-to-win-in-game-1
New York then got the same result as the first game but there was a first that happened as well. Chance Adams recorded his first victory in the Major Leagues. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
Entering in relief of opener Chad Green, Adams hurled four solid innings to position himself for the win before Aroldis Chapman recorded his 250th career save in an eventful ninth inning, completing a doubleheader sweep of the Royals with a 6-5 victory at Kauffman Stadium.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
"It's pretty cool, my first one in the big leagues," said Adams, who said he secured a baseball to signify the milestone. "It's a good feeling. Obviously, the more important thing is the team got the 'W,' but it feels good for me to get a first big league win." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
Cameron Maybin drove in three runs and Austin Romine contributed a two-run single as part of a three-hit effort, helping the Yankees extended their winning streak to a season-high seven games following a 7-3 victory in the first game of the split-admission twin bill.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
"Obviously a long day, and we weren't sure what the weather was going to be like," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "I'm glad it held off. To rack up two more wins, you take it."“according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
In that first game, Luke Voit hit a 470-foot go-ahead homer to back a quality start from J.A. Happ. The good vibes kept rolling early as the Yankees chased starter Jorge López without recording an out in a five-run second inning. Romine and Maybin each collected a pair of RBIs, and DJ LeMahieu chased the right-hander with a run-scoring single.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
That provided a healthy cushion for Adams, who was once ranked as the organization's top pitching prospect but saw his stock fall with a rough 2018 season. The 24-year-old said he has made mechanical adjustments to stand taller on the mound, at the advisement of Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitching coach Tommy Phelps. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
"I feel good right now," said Adams, ranked No. 20 by MLB Pipeline in the Yankees' system. "I've been tweaking some things. I just comfortable with myself out there."“according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
Adams was charged with three runs in four innings, but he was not helped by his defense, as outfielders Brett Gardner and Clint Frazier had adventures tracking fly balls through the dusky sky and the stadium lights. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
Boone was impressed by Adams, who deserved a cleaner line. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
"Man, [Adams was] really good," Boone said. "Really big pickup for us. He's come up here now twice and pitched well both times. Hopefully it's something that's a building block for him. He's been throwing the ball well in Triple-A. You can tell he's pitching with more confidence up here. He'll be back and he'll help us at some point this year, especially if he continues to throw the ball like that." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
Gardner had Adalberto Mondesi's third-inning fly ball hit his glove near the wall for a run-scoring double, though Frazier retrieved the ball in time to throw out Mondesi attempting to stretch the play into a triple. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
The duo then could not find Hunter Dozier's fourth-inning fly, which fell near Frazier and was also scored as a double. Frazier was unable to corral Jorge Soler's run-scoring double toward the right-field corner one batter later, as the Yanks' lead was trimmed to two runs.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
"That's happened to me one other time, in Detroit a long time ago," Gardner said. "Both those balls, once they got up out of the infield, I just completely lost them. It's a bad feeling. Clint did a good job of getting the ball and throwing it back in. We got a big out right there. We won the game, so that's what's important." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
Boone acknowledged that the nightcap was not the Yanks' crispest effort, but they were able to squeak by. Chapman made it a one-run game in the ninth, walking pinch-hitter Billy Hamilton on four pitches and then firing an errant pickoff throw to first base that allowed the speedster to reach third base. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
Cam Gallagher lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, with the putout recorded on a sliding grab by Maybin, and Chapman retired Terrance Gore looking at a called third strike to seal his 14th save in 15 opportunities.”according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
"The slider was the key tonight, and it helped me get out of it," Chapman said through an interpreter. "Definitely, we're having a great moment right now as a team. A lot of guys have come up and contributed. I think it has to do with the harmony and union that this team has. We're excited that we are going through such a good moment right now." “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/news/yankees-win-7th-straight-with-twin-bill-sweep
With the win, New York who is a member of the American League East improves to 34-17 while Kansas City who is a member of the American League Central drops 17-34. “according to https://www.mlb.com/yankees/standings
New York and Kansas City will return to the diamond on Sunday afternoon to finish up their three game series.