Jasson Dominguez highlighted a three-hit performance by hitting a bases-clearing double with two outs in the sixth inning, leading the New York Yankees to a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over the visiting Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.
In his 41st career game, Dominguez set a career-high with three RBIs. The switch-hitting outfielder also notched three hits for the second time in his brief career (also Sept. 6, 2023, against the Detroit Tigers).
Kansas City starter Michael Wacha (0-3) cruised through five innings with a 2-0 lead before the Yankees scored four in the sixth. Wacha allowed an infield single to Aaron Judge, then struck out Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt before issuing consecutive walks to Anthony Volpe and Jazz Chisholm Jr. to load the bases.
Left-hander Angel Zerpa, who entered with an opponents’ batting average of .368, walked Austin Wells on four pitches to force in two runs.
After getting two singles from the left side of the plate against Wacha, Dominguez batted from the right side of the plate. After fouling off a slider for a 1-2 count, the left fielder ripped a fastball over the leap of third baseman Cavan Biggio and down the left field line to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead.
Max Fried (3-0) followed up seven scoreless innings last week in Detroit by allowing two runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out seven and issued both of his walks in the seventh before Luke Weaver recorded the next four outs.
Devin Williams pitched a perfect ninth for his third save. It was the right-hander’s first 1-2-3 appearance this season, and he ended it by getting MJ Melendez to whiff on a changeup.
Wacha was charged with three runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out four and issued both of his walks in the pivotal sixth.
Melendez homered into the New York bullpen beyond the right-center-field fence to start the third off Fried, and Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. hit an RBI double with two outs in the third.
The Royals lost for the fifth time in seven games.
