Royals Report: KC Rolls On With 5-Run Eighth To Win 8-5

The Royals hung on to defeat the New York Yankees 8-5 at Kauffman Stadium on Monday night. The KC Royals won despite allowing four runs in the top of the eighth inning to make the game close.

The Kansas City Royals improved to 69-62 by winning 8-5 on Monday night. They remain 5.5 games behind AL Central leading Cleveland. Kansas City gained a game to pull within 2.0 games behind the Orioles for the second AL wild card. The New York Yankees fell to 67-63 and dropped to 7.5 games behind the Blue Jays in the AL East.

The KC Royals hung three runs on Yankee starter Michael Pineda in the first inning. Jarrod Dyson opened the inning with an infield single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Cuthbert struck out, and Dyson stole third. Lorenzo Cain then scored Dyson with a single to center that put KC up 1-0.

Cain stole second before Kendrys Morales singled to make the score 2-0 Kansas City. Salvador Perez singled to move Morales to second before Alex Gordon plated him with another single to make it 3-0.

The Yankees responded in the fourth inning with back-to-back two-out doubles from Didi Gregorius and Starlin Castro to pull within two at 3-1.

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Kansas City Royals starter Dillon Gee then settled down and lasted 6.0 innings, allowing four hits, 1 walk, and 1 earned run with four strikeouts to earn the win (6-7).

Meanwhile, Yankees starter Micheal Pineda retired 15 straight hitters until giving up singles to Kendrys Morales and Salvador Perez to open the seventh inning. Tommy Layne relieved Pineda and retired Alex Gordon on a ground ball. Blake Parker relieved Layne only to watch Alcides Escobar blast a three-run shot to left-center to put KC in control at 6-1.

Kansas City continued to pour on the hits, adding two more runs on RBI singles from Cheslor Cutbhert and Eric Hosmer.

After struggling most of the season, the Kansas City offense has produced an eight-run, three-run, and five-run in the last two nights. For now, at least, the Keep The Line Moving offense looks like it’s back.

KC Royals manager Ned Yost then brought in Chris Young in relief of Brian Flynn who had pitched a scoreless seventh. Young seemed to retire Jacoby Ellsbury on a grounder to open the eighth, but umpires ruled him safe due to catcher’s interference. Young then walked the next two hitters before giving up a two-run double to Didi Gregorius.

Peter Moylan relieved Young only to allow two more runs on a sacrifice fly to Starlin Castro and an RBI infield single to Chase Headley. Finally, Yost had to resort to closer Kelvin Herrera with the tying run at the plate to escape the inning.

Herrera pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 11th save.

Next: 10 Things That Have Gone Right For Royals In 2016

Unfortunately, both the Indians and Tigers rallied to pull off late wins to prevent the Kansas City Royals from gaining any ground in the division. But, Kansas City still managed to win their second straight game as they opened their series with the Yankees with a victory.

The Royals hung on to defeat the New York Yankees 8-5 at Kauffman Stadium on Monday night. The KC Royals won despite allowing four runs in the top of the eighth inning to make the game close.

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