Bats Come to Life in 6-2 Win Over Royals

Brandon McCarthy tossed 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball and five different batters drove in runs today as the Yankees bounced back perfectly from last night's 1-0 flop with a 6-2 win over the Royals.

For McCarthy, the W was his first since August 21, when he shutout the Astros to avoid a series sweep. Unfortunately, this afternoon's outing wasn't nearly as good as that one, although it was still definitely likable, with McCarthy only surrendering six hits in it while also striking out four.

Needless to say, his putting up of those numbers empowered the offense.

After KC starter Danny Duffy left after throwing one pitch with a shoulder injury in the bottom of the first, the Yankees took an early lead off reliever Liam Hendriks (4 IP, 3 ER), crossing home standing when Martin Prado doubled and Mark Teixeira got him in with a single.

Then in the third, following an Alex Gordon RBI that made it 1-1, the Yanks' bats continued to rake against Hendriks, circling the bases twice more when John Ryan Murphy led off with a flyball off the wall, Jacoby Ellsbury tripled, and Derek Jeter flew out to center. 

No, the contest wasn't over at that point, but once a Salvador Perez error and a couple more run-scoring knocks by Carlos Beltran and Ichiro Suzuki brought things to 6-1 in the next two frames it definitely was going in New York's favor, the third time that's happened in the last four days.

McCarthy Goes The Distance to Help Yankees Avoid Sweep

Brandon McCarthy tossed a four-hit shutout and Chase Headley drove home a pair with a double (followed shortly by an Ichiro Suzuki Sac Fly to make it 3-0) in the bottom of the second today as the Yankees avoided being swept by the Astros, 3-0, in the series finale at Yankee Stadium.

In his likable 8-K outing this afternoon, interestingly, McCarthy actually let men get to second and third twice, happenings that appeared at the time to indicate that him going the distance just wasn't possible. 

Fortunetaly, though, McCarthy would bare down and get out of both of those situations spotless, with the first one ending with Houston Right Fielder Marc Krauss grounding out sharply right back to him.

No, McCarthy didn't necessarily collect a web gem on that play, but yes, he did accidentally deflect the ball off his ankle, an act soon followed by him finding it on the grass to retire Krauss by a step.

Then in the seventh, with a duo in scoring position and one out, McCarthy also struck out Jon Singleton and induced a Carlos Corporon pop-up, essentially killing the Astros' offensive momentum, as they never again reached base in their last two at-bats.