Anthony Rizzo hit his first homer in over two months and collected a season-high four hits as the host New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 8-5 on Sunday afternoon.
The Yankees completed their third series sweep this season after losing nine of their previous 11 games. New York last swept a series May 19-21 at Cincinnati.
Gleyber Torres hit a two-run home run that sparked New York’s four-run opening inning against Jordan Lyles (1-12). Torres’ 16th homer extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games.
Rizzo also had an RBI double in the first and singled in the fifth before getting a base hit in the eighth. It was Rizzo’s 15th career four-hit game and first since Aug. 4, 2019.
The Yankees held their four-run lead when Rizzo batted with one out in the third. After fouling off two full-count pitches, the first baseman lifted a sinker into the right field seats.
Rizzo carried his bat about halfway up the line before calmly dropping it and starting his trot. Teammates showed him the silent treatment and then mobbed him at the end of the dugout to celebrate Rizzo’s 12th homer.
Before going deep, Rizzo went 187 plate appearances and 166 at-bats since connecting off Cincinnati reliever Ian Gibaut on May 20.
The Yankees added three runs in the eighth, with two coming on Oswald Peraza’s infield single and throwing error by Kansas City first baseman Nick Pratto before Kyle Higashioka lifted a sacrifice fly.
The Royals’ Salvador Perez hit a solo homer in the fourth and Michael Massey hit a two-run shot in the sixth off New York starter Luis Severino (2-4), who allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. Severino struck out five and didn’t issue a walk.
Ian Hamilton followed Severino and pitched 1 1/3 innings. Michael King stranded two in the eighth. Ron Marinaccio allowed homers to Freddy Fermin and Kyle Isbel in the ninth.
Lyles, who leads the major leagues in losses, allowed five runs on nine hits in five innings.
The Royals lost their fifth straight and dropped to 3-14 since July 3.
–Field Level Media
