Yankees combat Royals to take weekend series

The Yankees win an exhausting weekend battle, taking three of four games in a more-difficult-than-expected series against the Kansas City Royals.

The Yankees took the series opener against the Royals after another solid start for Sonny Gray and a big night for the bats. Gray has begun to piece together several quality starts. He collected his eighth win of the season. His final line: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K.

RBIs from Giancarlo Stanton and Austin Romine and a Royals’ fielding error put the Yankees up early. A Didi Gregorious three-run blast in the fourth inning quickly gave the Yanks a 6-0 lead. Greg Bird extended that lead with a solo shot in the fifth inning. A strong effort from the bullpen led the Yankees to a 7-2 win.

Aaron Judge left the game in the first inning after suffering a chip fracture in his right wrist from a HBP. The Yankees expect Judge to miss three weeks. The injury serves as a test to the offense, as missing one of their best players will pose a challenge. This news is a significant blow to the Yankees in the midst of a division race.

Monday’s rainout forced the Yankees to play the Royals in a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday. Luis Severino started Game 1 and had a disastrous outing: 4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. A Stanton two-run homer, and RBI hits from Neil Walker and Gleyber Torres, accounted for the offense. Though they tried for a late-inning rally, David Robertson gave up a three-run homer to quiet their hopes. The Yanks lost the first game of the doubleheader by a score of 10-5.

NJ.com’s Brendan Kuty reports Severino’s post-game comments after his shortest start of the season:

“I don’t know what the issue is but I will make sure I work hard,” Severino said. “I have been through this in the past. I have to work and try to be myself again.”

After a deflating first game, CC Sabathia took the bump, providing the Yanks a pretty solid start: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K. Shane Robinson hit his first home run as a Yankee. RBIs from Miguel Andújar and Walker kept the game close. In the seventh inning, Zach Britton loaded the bases and walked in a run to give the Royals a one-run lead. It wasn’t until the eighth inning when Greg Bird blasted the tying homer and Aaron Hicks hit the go-ahead sac fly. Chapman recorded the save and the Yankees won 5-4.

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Newcomer J.A. Happ, made his first start in the Bronx and did a nice job. His line: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. Hicks went 3-for-3 with a two-run shot. Additional RBIs from Andújar, Torres, Bird, and Stanton kept the Yankees in the lead throughout the game. Though Chad Green and Robertson allowed one run each, Chapman recorded his 28th save. The Yankees took a 6-3 victory.

Following Saturday’s game, the Yankees announced they traded LHP Chasen Shreve and RHP Giovanny Gallegos for 1B Luke Voit and international signing money.

Following Sunday’s game, they announced they acquired international signing money from the White Sox for LHP Caleb Frare.

After an off-day on Monday, the Yanks will face the Baltimore Orioles in a two-game set in New York. The Orioles have the worst record in the AL East (32-74). However, they scored 37 runs in their last three games against the Rays. The Yankees need to take advantage of the home stadium and ensure they can shut down this struggling team.

Masahiro Tanaka (8-2, 4.09 ERA) will face Yefry Ramírez (1-3, 3.49 ERA) in Game 1, while Sonny Gray (8-7, 5.08 ERA) looks to build momentum against Alex Cobb 2-14, 6.08 ERA) in Game 2. The Yankees have struggled to win against the Orioles, but sweeping the short series is crucial before a weekend against the Red Sox.