MLB THE SHOW 24 | New York Yankees vs Kansas City Royals | Game 144

hello and welcome thanks for joining us MLB the show with a good one coming at you it's the Kansas City Royals taking on the New York Yankees first pitch coming your way next about to get started here and today's starting pitcher Carlos rodon Chris his strikeout rate this year among the best all time he's truly one of the elite strikeout pitchers in the league I mean strikeouts per nine off the chart so the opposing team they know they have their cut anytime they're facing this guy or a guy like this that's going to get the swings and misses pretty much in a class of his own when it comes to that category up one down Drew Waters stands in a swing and a miss and that's strike one rone multi-time Allstar he features a four seam fast ball a slider a curb and he works in a change up Torres fires over to first two quick outs at the top of the first here tonight bounce to the left side that's gets it to First and Wht is out Royal ready to go for the last half of the inning and stepping in for the Yankees Alex Verdugo LA to Right Center base hit around first heading for two and he's there with a lead off double well a swing like that can help you come out of the struggle we saw the numbers coming into the ball game but all he's trying to do at this point is help his team win and now it's wodo swinging a foul over the screen and back out of play man it's second foul ball there and the pitch that one ped up the middle and it gets through herugo on his horse and around third and they'll score first it's one Z mission accomplished there as he picks up the RBI to give him the lead really nice job staying up the Middle with his approach he didn't try to do too much with the pitch just shot it through the infield Here Comes Aaron judge he was late there strike one we all know Yankee Stadium is a great place for judge to H hit home runs in fact his coaches Joe can say he can sneeze one out to right well the scary part is it might be true he's hit well how he let that ball travel trusted his hands nice job of going the other way gel Torres at the plate now as he chases after that one this might be the most pressure you put on this guy today you got one run in you got to try to get another one or maybe two it's great to get on the in the first frame the ball game but here's an opportunity for them to really open things up with a couple of Runners let's see if they can cash in one two St swings through that one it's a strike [Applause] out John Carlos Stanton to the plate now very used to hitting in spots like this right now second in the AL when rbi's foul back ourway and that's out of play traffic on the B with one already in you're in game one of this three game set and that's downstairs and outside got a ball one [Applause] stra and it finds its way through for a hit the throw in and he's in there a run comes in in the play the tag out here's Jose trino he's been tearing up at the plate recently can make it a five game hitting streak with a knock in this one swing and a ball popped up Massie makes the grab and the inning is over but two runs for him and they jump ahead we had to top of the second now it'll be the cleanup hitter for the Royals Nelson Velasquez and there's a foul ball well after putting up a nice Inning on offense got some runs across this is where you look for the starter to go out there have a shut down inning don't give that other team any hope you just hope that he can get through this inning get the bats back up there while they're hot he's got it and there's one down Vinnie pasano stands in now and watches strike one that misses the zone and the count is one and one one out base is empty set down on strikes fast the letters frows him for strike three two out B is empty Adam Frasier steps in for the Royals oh now this is blasted way back there on its way gone his 18th home run of the season and they're on the scoreboard it's 2-1 he wasted no time in that at bat swinging at the first pitch and he punished [Applause] it that's the exact defition of hitting the ball where it's pitch taking that outside fast and driving it the opposite way out of the ball punk you want to bottle that type of approach two outs nobody on MJ Melendez will hit next that's in there strike one Melendez it his third season hitting seventh in today's lineup and he was a second round pick back in 2017 two out SP is empty swaging a miss the velocity blasted it right past him Kansas City moves closer on this solo blast and this is now a 2-1 ball game you're dialed into the show we head to the bottom of the second and here is Anthony Rizzo the line of the pitch swinging a foul over the screen and back out of [Applause] play and and the pitch swing and a miss and that strike two ball two strike next pitch inside it's a ball in two strikes saying he wasn't very sharp in the first got hit around a little bit just wasn't able to locate particularly well a lot of stuff for the fat part of the plate yeah boo he wasn't fooling anyone it's a tough place to be cuz it's not always obvious when adjustments need to be made sometimes it's location being too predictable sometimes you're tipping your pitches he's going to need to figure it out quickly though that Miss caught a break right there pretty good pitch on the outside corner just off the inside corner three and two now really good take especially with two strikes ground ball left side and it goes just foul and a 3-2 that's to third that was a strong at bat even though he couldn't find a way on base and next for New York Oswaldo Cabrera and first offering is fouled off one down base is empty a and two and he really sells the change up with that arm action missed with a change up now one and two chase that time still just the second batter of the inning and on the M he's already thrown 13 pitches they got him working hard out there tosses across the first already two out here in the home half of inning number two well he didn't recognize change up earlier enough got out in front of little bit rolled over on it and beat it into the ground two down nobody on and it's fou away o and two now BS it back with two strikes clearly trying to stay back a little bit longer for that change up as he fouls that fast back next offering upstairs swings through that and it's a strike out three up three down back in New York now it's the second baseman Michael Massie fast ball for a [Applause] strike next off bring is in for a strike and now the Lefty deep drive down the line foul [Applause] ball Odon ready here comes gets a piece there we'll do it again the Lefty fires struck Him Out Swinging slider got him for strike three and here's the [Applause] catcher and there's a rocket into the Outfield now he'll turn for second and that's a two bagger went up there looking to be aggressive and got something he could handle he really shot that one down the right field line and somehow found a way to keep it from slicing foul about the approach his head was down all the way through the pitch and that's how you do it and it's second out towards right center field and that'll fall for a base hit around third the throw in gets it done to drive in the run and tie it back up you know what they say he couldn't have thrown it out there any better than that and certainly the case that time just flared it back behind the second basem and dropped it in there Drew Waters steps in for the Royals oh one no in the dirt blocked but no Advance that's ball one and the one0 bounce to third there's one he's out and that's two but the RBI single pushes across a run two two game back at Yankee Stadium here's Alex Verdugo wa back to work up the middle and that one handled whips it to First and Verdugo is set down here's [Applause] wotto and a foul ball here comes the one b tied up here in the early going and another ball and that's off the Inside Edge and a count is three and one one down base is empty and that's too high ball four ball his ability to draw walks has been something that's been part of his career since day one and that one pulled foul you know Bo judge is one of those guys that leaves his mark on everything he does yes he's great at baseball but he's also known for working with charties and in his community he's a special human no doubt about [Applause] that that's down and in man it first one away lifted in the air right field Velasquez moving under it hooks it away for the out and there's two away here comes glaber Torres he was a strikeout victim his first time line to left H the extra bases and that's going to get into the corner lead Runner gets the stop sign third it's a two out double second and third now Wast no time there RI that one down the line and kept it fair and even when you hit it that far out front you still have to keep your hands tight to your body so you don't hook around that baseball and put it in foul territory and that right there was perfect one and one in the dirt wow that's a great job behind the dish there two outs two in scoring position next offering is in for a strike down to the dir swinging a miss and it's in time for the third out so that'll end the inning back for more from the Bronx all set for the start of the inning stepping in Bobby Whit J late on that fast know boo this is a player with some serious speed in 2023 he became the first player in 20 years to record two infield hits and an inside the park home run in the same game swings and misses one down man he's still no chance in that at B three pitch strikeout swung through all three tell you what Bo it's not a good feeling at all you know that from experience uh it's happened a time or two if I didn't roll over on the first pitch Sinker a second base then you know in there long enough then I would yeah I've had a couple my guy have tased swing and a miss St him out that's out number two him out in front which isn't easy to do against a hit like this known for using the entire field just couldn't sit back long enough on that one castino stands in with two away as he takes a ball swings through that one for strike one on the corner for a strike going to count one and two a swinging a miss and good work there as he get back at Yankee Stadium and now Jose trino swings and he pops It Up near the pitcher M Whit makes the grab and there's one down Anthony Rizzo steps to the plate ground it out his first time and a foul ball all tied up we're here in the bottom of the [Applause] fourth and misses it's a strike out just overmatched on that fast right there and it wasn't like he was set up for by something off speed earlier in the in just came right after him with three straight and he had Cabrera slow second trip to the plate in this one would chase that time two and two outs and a swing in a Miss there just a little too quick on that front shoulder front hip front foot everything comes open no way of making contact with that one is [Applause] inside knocks that one away and we'll do it again two down nobody on you're in game one of this three game set in the air left side Melendez going after it makes the grab and that'll do it we go to the top of the fifth here's Adam Fraser to the right side Finds Its way through base hit man aboard on the leadoff single and next up for the Royals MJ Mendez one and that one a little below the knees ball one this one in the air Torres gets there he's under it calls it in for the Out Boy that was a hanging breaking ball right there I think he tried to do a little bit too much sometimes those eyes can get really big I think his swing broke down as well and that's what caus him to pop it out and he makes the grab and there's two [Applause] away next is the Royals catcher to third Cabrera they take the force out and that is the third out the rander back to work it started a little too early strike one on the he had a little trouble back in the first but it's been a different story the rest of the way really settled into this outing nicely makes the grab one [Applause] down so the batting order turns over Alex Verdugo stepping in now for the Yankees wouldn't chase that time Verdugo 27 years old and he's been touching home PL quite a bit lately scoring eight runs over the last 10 games and another ball no one down base is empty that one fouled off [Applause] Bas is empty one away last half of inning number [Applause] five well you can't really adjust your game plan for that last pitch guy hasn't thrown it very much you got to focus on the stuff that he's throwing up there most of the time spoils that one and it remains two and two that's hard hit in the line Velasquez pulls it down and there's two gone now the number two hitter Juan sto on the line base hit and that gives Aaron judge a chance to hit with two out Aaron judge at the plate one for two swing and a miss as he Chas is that oneing out of the [Applause] Zone puts it in the air out towards left Center sizes this one up squeezes it and that's the inning the Yan back in the Bronx top of the sixth inning now here's the lead off hitter for the Royals number 11 that's in there and that is strike one swing and a miss foul ball it stays nothing in [Applause] two into Center judge is there nabs it and there's one down digging in is the switch inning outfielder Drew Waters pass ball for a strike pretty Fugal guy he is very eff with the pitch count in this one and two now as he swings through got him looking picks up strike out number seven Chris third time through the order and a couple of quick outs for the starter yeah he's been very frugal today economical with the pitch count Whit in the box with two gone and takes a look at a called strike lde drive and that should be extra bases round first and hustling for second and that's a double couldn't have timed it up any better than that just a solid swing right there caught it out front and ripped it into the out for the base hit those always feel great a chance now to take the lead and at this point in the game that could be a deciding R the strategy of winning a ball game when you can make that pitcher work a little more expose himself growing pitches that could be the key to winning perhaps later job of extending this inning getting a knock with two outs to bring the number four up misses out and there it is bottom of the six so now the Yankees cleanup hitter Gaber Torres outside low and it's one and0 you can expect this hitter to be looking for something on a te he can get up in the air and untie this ball game out towards left Center on the Move no trouble here puts it away for the out one up one down and here is John Carlos Stanton and that one fouled [Applause] off one down base is [Applause] empty very dominant with that fast inside hitter's going to be conscious of that now you have the outer for the plate to work with out there on the M now a slow roller to Second over to First and they take care of Stanton for the out here's the catcher Jose [Applause] trino drilled out towards left center field that's well struck that one's got a chance and it's off the wall and that's a double well that started and ended prettyy quickly no messing around right there challenged him with the fast right in the heart of the zone and he was clearly ready to jump all over it and that's skip in dir activity in the bullpen for the Royals Daniel Lynch up and throwing s also getting [Applause] ready righty delivers this to center field [Applause] and that's the third out one left for back now in the Bronx we go to the top of the seven and now the first baseman Vinnie pasquantino left field and a quick out number one and next is the designated hitter Adam Frasier that's in there going and one and one [Applause] and there's a breaking ball that drops in there all tied up here the top half of inning number seven swing and a high fly ball to left berdugo gets under it caral it and there's two down MJ Mendez steps in for the Royals first pitch misses and that's down it [Applause] away the wi to kick the two and downstairs he hasn't falling behind in the count like this all day he's in danger of walking his first batter right here next offering is in for a strike it really looks like these hitters have been in between with their timing today good fast excellent slider but they've not been able to commit to one velocity and stay there in the air left field berdugo gets under it and puts the squeeze on that one and that pitcher on here Daniel Lynch well he's been a really tough guy to take deep this season you usually have to string some hits together in order to get to him that's a base hit so they go ahead run is on base with a knock well the last 10 games or so have been anything but fun at the pl for him so that one has to feel good show the willingness to drive that pitch the opposite way didn't get jumpy didn't try to pull theall swung on and hit well way back there and it's good home run number 20 on the year and they add a pair it's 42 listen to these fans this place is absolutely buzzing right now you can feel the energy all the way up here in our broadcast group pitchers are taught to keep the ball down so that you don't get hurt but unfortunately on that one he made a pretty good pitch in terms of location but it was just a better swing back to the top of the Yankee order here's the Yankees lead off hitter Alex Verdugo grab ball up the middle fires to first on the run on the money nice play now what the right fielder Juan sto hard ground ball base down so a man aboard now with one away having himself a really nice game at the plate couldn't get any air under but he smoked that back up the middle timing was just perfect got great wood on it and there just no chance for the infielders with how hard he hit it fall off foul still only one out here in the inning and a pop up right side foul territory two away good hard fast up in the zone right there they look really good coming in but so hard to get on top of as a hit fler Torres up to the plate hit hard base hit throw stops the lead runner at two on and two out right there does a great job of standing the big part of the field there are a lot of hits there John Carlo Stanton at the Play Misses inside ball one right through there for a strike the Yanks trying to break this one open here the bottom of the seven [Applause] sharp grounder that's through for a base hit around third fires it to the plate but it's offline and they're up by three well done drives in the Run wasn't able to elevate that one but he sure hit it hard enough to get through the infield there's not a whole lot of time for The Defenders to react and try to make a play when it's ripped like that and up next for New York Jose trino one for three and a foul ball left side Torres at third Stanton at first two out of the [Applause] inning Off the Mark there and one and [Applause] one will chase that time it's a big opportunity right here but I love the way he's slowing the game down he's shrinking his Zone making sure he gets the pitch that he wants to [Applause] hit the two two up the middle whip throws to first they limit the damage here they get three and jump ahead late rodone back to work flyball down the line he's got it and there's one away notice how they're swinging too early or too late that's a timing problem they need to guess right on a few of those pitches and I mean make an educated guess number 88 in the Box again takes a strike smoked on the ground a second throws the first in time couple of pitches and a quick out here's the third for a strike it's own and [Applause] one swings through that one SL of the count in this situation keep swing and a out and it's a three back now new pitcher on the M as we roll into the bottom of the E Jake br he last pitched four days ago so he should feel pretty fresh gizzo the lead off batter as he swings through it for strike one going to really need to hang in there with that front side against this left-handed breaking ball chase that time doubled up on the slider away two Seer here just watch and see [Applause] and now it's one and two got him [Music] swinging thought it was a pretty good pitch top of the strike zone we're seeing more fast balls in that location hitters especially with two strikes have to be ready to pull the trigger Cabrera now the Box comes up empty with a swing there activity in the bullpen Josh Taylor the Leander up and throwing Sher the right-hander also getting loose Yankees up by three here the bottom half of the eighth inning that one not close and the count even one and one lifted in the air down the left side Melendez drifts towards it brings it in two down just pulled off of it a little bit right there that front shoulder coming open instead of staying closed if he does that he's going to be able to go up the middle the other way with some Authority instead of a fly out to left one the batter now as he swings and misses for strike [Applause] one started after the 01 pitch and now a check down to First and he went around according to Patrick Johnson [Applause] two downman on swing and a miss and he chases that one in the dirt got him ining over on the strike out we go to the ninth and now the center fielder Drew Waters and there's the [Applause] strike that one F hard the other way and here it comes swings and misses struck him out just a mid90s challenge fast right there not much to it and I'm sure he'd love another swing at it because he was in a very hitable location those are the swings where you sometimes start to question yourself as a hitter and say how did I miss that but you know what happens man it first and next will be the cleanup hitter Nelson Velasquez that's outside and that is ball one not giving him a pitch to hit there isn't a bad thing he's dealing with a great first pitch hitter up there just missed I mean his pitch efficiency ability to get ahead and count at times pitch to contact let the defense work behind him it's why he's still in the game here in the ninth inning down swinging for the strike out and they're down to their last out Vinnie pasquantino steps in for the Royals there's the strike you just don't see it that much anymore a guy being this efficient and getting this deep into the game I wonder if he's going to be able to close it out is something about that nth inning but being at under 100 pitches he still got plenty of fuel left in the tank good eye in that spot rodone is just one strike away got and that'll do it it seemed like from the first pitch of this ball game this guy was going to done a quality start who knew he throw a complete game and get the victory but an excellent job of continuing to just throw what the catcher put down He navigated through this ball game a jam here a jam there but ultimately it was an outstanding outing and your final score 52 for Chris Singleton and our entire crew here at MLB the Show thanks for stopping by I'm John chambie talk to you soon