NEW YORK – In the not-so-intimidating American League, the Yankees’ slugging ability is a standout feature – especially in the Bronx.
“Anybody on any night can pick the lineup up,’’ said Austin Wells, among a trio of Yankees to homer in a three-run fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals’ Seth Lugo.
Starting with Jazz Chisholm’s fourth-inning blast, the Yankees’ four solo shots off Lugo lifted them to a 4-1 victory at Yankee Stadium.
Yankees’ franchise homer record through 16 games
This marked the first meeting between the Royals (8-9) and Yankees (9-7) since KC’s ascension from a 106-loss club in 2023 to a playoff team in 2024.
And that four-game AL Wild Card Series win by the Yanks was really a narrow victory, with two one-run games and two games settled by two runs.
Entering the eighth inning of pivotal Game 3 at Kansas City, the game was tied and the series was even at one apiece.
“Every game was right there for the taking,’’ said Aaron Boone, who called the Royals “a formidable club that does a really good job at run prevention.’’
But you can’t defend the homer, and Trent Grisham’s tie-breaking leadoff shot was followed shortly by Ben Rice’s third homer in his last five games and Wells’ liner over the right field wall.
The Yankees’ 32 homers in 16 games is their highest total to start a season in franchise history.
Jasson Dominguez’s best left field moment
Continuing to make strides defensively in left field, Jasson Dominguez made one of his best catches to rob Salvador Perez leading off the fourth inning.
KC was leading 1-0 when Dominguez got an instant read on a ball ticketed over his head, making a lunging over-the-shoulder grab along the warning track.
It was tough, but I got a good jump on it,’’ said Dominguez, whose shaky transition from center field carried from last September into spring training.
Still, “I knew with all the reps, I’d be good,’’ said Dominguez, a reference to constant pregame work at the position, something not lost on his teammates.
“That’s all you can ask for,” said Chisholm Jr., who moved from second base to center field with the Miami Marlins. “The biggest challenge is just knowing your angles…knowing how hard the ball is hit. That, and the first step.”
Manager Aaron Boone likes the ease with which Dominguez is tracking fly balls, and his improved routes and footwork.
“That’s when you’re going to start to see the range with this speed show up,” said Boone, who still replaced Dominguez defensively after seven innings with the superior Cody Bellinger.
Cody Bellinger still receiving back treatment
Bellinger did not start against the right-handed Lugo, with Boone trying to manage the slugging outfielder through a team stretch of 13 straight games.
The lefty-hitting Bellinger missed three games last week due to back soreness and a bout of food poisoning, and he’s still getting back treatment according to Boone.
“Just want to pick some spots here and there,’’ said Boone. “Just trying to be smart with some guys who’ve gone through some things in the early season.’’
Carlos Carrasco’s start, Devin Williams’ finish
Entering with a 7.71 ERA through his first three games (two starts), Carlos Carrasco has felt on borrowed time in pinstripes.
The veteran righty made the club as a non-roster invitee due to a spate of pitching injuries, and Marcus Stroman’s latest injury (knee inflammation) ensured he’d remain in the rotation.
After pitching around two walks in the first inning, Carrasco yielded just a solo homer to Bobby Witt Jr. over five innings to post the win.
Carassco said the changeup and slider combo was the key, and Wells said it drew “a lot of weak contact. Felt we kept them off balance.’’
But after three relievers, including Luke Weaver, bridged it to the ninth…well, it just hasn’t been easy for Devin Williams.
The new Yankees closer put two men on base and faced the tying run with one out before converting his second save of the season.
All that Jazz, and then some
Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s personal friendly competition with Aaron Judge, the newly named captain of Team USA’s 2026 WBC team – is still very much on.
“I’ve got to go talk to him right now,” said Chisholm Jr., who matched Judge (2-for-4, singles) for the club lead with his sixth homer of the year.
Their friendly competition includes stolen bases, and Chisholm Jr. has the club lead in that department with four; Judge has two steals.
Chisholm Jr., from the Bahamas, said he’d heat up again when the temperature moved beyond frigid, and he’s now homered in consecutive games for the first time since March 29-30.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Yankees takeaways from 4-1 win over Kansas City Royals on Monday
