NEW YORK – Alex Verdugo laced an opposite-field go-ahead single to left in the seventh inning to plate Jazz Chisholm Jr., and the Yankees held on to defeat the Royals, 6-5, in Game 1 of their American League Division Series on Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
Mired in a 1-for-31 slump, Yankees catcher Austin Wells delivered an RBI single to right field in the sixth inning, tying the game at 5-5.
A four-walk fifth inning – two coming with the bases loaded – gave the Yankees a 4-3 advantage.
Wells drew a seven-pitch walk against reliever Angel Zerpa to plate the tying run and Anthony Volpe followed two batters later with a run-scoring walk of his own against John Schreiber to put the Yankees in front.
Gleyber Torres got the Yankees started in the third inning with a two-run homer.
Gerrit Cole wasn’t at his best on the mound but gutted through five-plus innings, allowing seven hits and four runs (three earned), with two coming on MJ Melendez’s home run in the fourth inning.
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Monday night in the Bronx at 7:30 ET and will be televised on TBS, truTV and Max.
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