New York Yankees vs Kansas City Royals Match Player Stats On May 16, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 16, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- CC Sabathia pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings, and Gary Sanchez and Chris Carter homered as the New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 7-1 on Tuesday night.

Sabathia, who had an ungainly 9.58 ERA in his previous four starts, quieted the Royals' offense while Sanchez and Carter supplied loud swings.

Sanchez belted a three-run homer in the third inning, and Carter hit a two-run shot in the fourth. Both were off Jason Hammel, who fell to 1-5 with a 6.20 ERA in eight starts.

Sabathia (3-2) lowered his ERA to 4.93. He yielded five hits, four of them singles, walked two and struck out four.

The Royals threatened in the seventh, which Eric Hosmer led off with a bloop double. After Sabathia struck out Salvador Perez and Jorge Bonifacio, Jorge Soler coaxed a walk and Alex Gordon reached on an infield single to load the bases.

Manager Joe Girardi went to his bullpen, although Sabathia had thrown only 85 pitches. Tyler Clippard struck out Whit Merrifield to end the inning, stranding the runners.

The Yankees added a run in the seventh with three successive two-out singles by Starlin Castro, Aaron Judge and Jacoby Ellsbury. Castro scored on Ellsbury's hit to right.

They tacked on another run in the eighth when Matt Holliday's fielder's choice grounder with the bases loaded scored Didi Gregorius.

The Royals loaded the bases in the ninth against Jonathan Holder on Bonifacio and Gordon singles sandwiched around a walk to Soler. Merrifield's fielder's choice grounder got Bonifacio home to prevent a shutout.

The Yankees (23-13) remain atop the American League East standings. The Royals (16-22), who had their four-game winning streak snapped, are at the bottom of the AL Central.

Hammel's modus operandi as a quick starter and then fades rapidly proved to be an accurate barometer again, unfortunately for the Royals' starter.

Hammel allowed two harmless singles to the Yankees in the first two innings. He has a 1.69 ERA in the first two innings of his eight starts, allowing three runs over 16 innings.

After the second inning, Hammel's ERA climbs to the north side of 8.00.

Before Hammel could retire a Yankee in the third inning, Carter singled, Brett Gardner walked and Sanchez hit a three-run homer to straight away center on an 0-1 pitch.

After Hammel retired the first two batters in the fourth inning, Gregorius singled and Carter homered, making it 5-0. Carter picked on a 1-1 Hammel offering and deposited it over the center field wall.

NOTES: INF Christian Colon and OF/1B Peter O'Brien, who were designated for assignment by the Royals, were claimed off waivers. The Miami Marlins picked up Colon, while the Cincinnati Reds acquired O'Brien. ... Royals RHP Ian Kennedy, who is on the disabled list with a hamstring strain, will throw a bullpen Wednesday. Manager Ned Yost hinted Kennedy could start Saturday at Minnesota if all goes well. ... LHP CC Sabathia moved past Mike Mussina to 13th place on the Yankees' all-time list innings list with 1,554 2/3. He also picked up his 109th Yankees' victory, tying Spud Chandler and Fritz Peterson for 15th place on the club's all-time win list. ... Yankees RHP Michael Pineda and Royals LHP Jason Vargas are the probables Wednesday. Vargas' 1.01 ERA is the lowest in the majors.