McKinney’s marvelous game helps get Yanks back on track
NEW YORK — The Yankees declared their dismal West Coast journey to be “rock bottom” for his or her 2023 season, promising their subsequent 9 innings would showcase a cleaner product.
Billy McKinney belted a three-run homer and contributed a pair of wonderful catches in heart area because the Yankees snapped their four-game skid on Friday night, opening their homestand with a 5-4 victory over the Royals at Yankee Stadium.
“I’ve always felt like I could play center,” McKinney mentioned. “I’m not Byron Buxton out there, tracking stuff down, but I think I can play well enough whenever a guy like [Harrison] Bader needs a day. I’m here to help fill in when an opportunity arises.”
Filling in for Bader, who sustained a bruised rib after a hit-by-pitch within the Yanks’ loss at Anaheim on Wednesday, McKinney made a sliding seize on a Kyle Isbel liner within the third inning, then scaled the wall to remove a Drew Waters hit within the seventh.
“That was impressive. I didn’t know he was a center fielder like that,” mentioned Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt. “I guess that’s his true position now. Two big plays right there and a big swing; it was an all-around night for him. It was fun to watch.”
McKinney cracked his fifth homer of the season within the fourth off Kansas City’s Alec Marsh, who additionally served up homers to Franchy Cordero and Gleyber Torres in his fourth Major League begin.
A house collection with the last-place Royals — who’re on tempo for 116 losses — ought to characterize a possibility for the Yankees to regain some footing, coming off their stumbles in a 1-5 journey to Colorado and Anaheim.
“Everybody has been pushing each other, helping each other out, and everybody wants to win,” McKinney mentioned. “We’re trying really hard to do so. I’m glad we got one tonight.”
It has been “a whirlwind” of a season for the 28-year-old McKinney, who returned to the Yankees group this spring after 5 years bouncing between the Blue Jays, Brewers, Mets, Dodgers and Athletics earlier than lastly attending to play a house recreation at Yankee Stadium.
Aaron Judge’s anticipated return, in addition to the present Minor League rehabs for outfielders Jake Bauers and Willie Calhoun, might complicate McKinney’s place on the roster.
But supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned that McKinney “has certainly played well enough to merit continued consideration, whether it be in the lineup or on the team,” and McKinney doesn’t seem like stressing over what might occur within the subsequent few weeks.
“This isn’t my first crazy season,” McKinney mentioned. “I know it’s a cliché, but one day at a time. I really do take it like that.”
The homers from the Yankees helped assist Schmidt, who permitted three runs and 5 hits over 5 2/3 innings as he picked up his sixth win of the season. All three runs got here on Michael Massey’s first homer of the sport. Schmidt was additionally the successful pitcher within the Yanks’ most up-to-date victory on Saturday at Coors Field.
“The big swing got me tonight with a three-run homer, but I was able to keep my team in the game,” mentioned Schmidt, who’s 5-2 with a 3.02 ERA in his final 12 video games (11 begins) after beginning the 12 months 1-4 with a 6.30 ERA over his first 9 begins.
Schmidt had tossed solely 64 pitches when Boone elected to go to left-hander Wandy Peralta, explaining that he felt the two-on, two-out state of affairs “was the game right there.” Peralta retired Nick Pratto on a routine flyout to McKinney.
“I get it. They played the matchup right there, and Wandy came away with a big out,” Schmidt mentioned.
Massey added his second dwelling run of the sport going through Tommy Kahnle within the eighth inning, establishing a good conclusion. With Clay Holmes on the mound within the ninth, Waters stole second base, a play that the Yankees unsuccessfully challenged.
Bobby Witt Jr. chopped a two-out grounder to shortstop Anthony Volpe, who noticed Waters trying to advance and alertly fired to 3rd baseman DJ LeMahieu, a play that Royals supervisor Mike Quatraro referred to as “extremely heads-up.”
Third-base umpire Jordan Baker shortly dominated Waters secure, however Boone requested a crew chief evaluation, which overturned the decision.
“I didn’t know if we could challenge it after we just challenged,” Volpe mentioned. “I was kind of surprised and happy when they put it on the board.”
