Everyone got involved at the plate on Thursday night as the Royals offense combined for 16 hits in a 11-5 victory to cap off a series win in New York. Eight extra-base hits also was a season high as the team scrapped together six doubles and a pair of home runs.
Kansas City really got things going in the second inning facing Yankees starter Ivan Nova, as the Royals scored six runs to take command. Eric Hosmer lead off the inning with his second home run in as many days, giving him two so far in the first week of his major league career. Hosmer was 3-for-5 on the evening, finishing a triple shy of the cycle as he now is batting a fierce .333/.444/.714 through six games.
Nova finished the game with only three innings pitched, allowing eight runs on ten hits. Only four of the runs were earned, as the Yankees had trouble in the field, committing two errors, while catcher Francisco Cervelli had two passed balls.
Pitching for the Royals was Sean O`Sullivan, who looked good early on but struggled in the fifth inning as his pitch count got higher. Manager Ned Yost stuck with O`Sullivan for 6.2 innings though, in which he allowed four runs on six hits. New York posted four runs in the fifth, including Robinson Cano's solo home run, his ninth of the season. O'Sullivan improved to 2-2, while Nova took the loss and his record was evened at 3-3.
With the Yankees crowd back into the game in the sixth and trailing just 8-4, the momentum swung back to the Royals side when Hosmer doubled to left, scoring Billy Butler and extending the lead to 9-4. Butler busted out of his recent slump, going 4-for-6 at the plate, picking up two RBI as well.
Blake Wood came on to pitch 2.1 innings after O`Sullivan exited and gave up just one run, an eighth inning home run to Alex Rodriguez. It was good to see Wood pitch an extended amount and allow the Royals bullpen to rest after having to put in a lot of work in Wednesday's extra inning win.
Kansas City moves to 20-17, while New York now sits at 20-15. The Royals now head to Detroit for the second time this season in what begins a very important weekend matchup. The Tigers are just a half game back of the Royals for second place in the Central Division. Cleveland continues to lead the race by 3.5 games.
Luke Hochevar (3-3 4.91) will be pitching tomorrow evening against Justin Verlander (3-3 3.16). Last time out, Verlander no-hit Toronto, his second career no-hitter. Gametime is 6:05 Central and will be broadcasted on Fox Sports Kansas City.