In an thrilling clash at Yankee Stadium, the Kansas City Royals bounced back to defeat the New York Yankees 4-2 on October 7, 2024, leveling their American League Division Series at one game each. The victory was sparked by a crucial home run from Salvador Perez, who smashed a ball deep into left field leading off the fourth inning to initiate a remarkable four-run rally against Yankees starter Carlos Rodón.

Despite a rocky start, Royals pitcher Cole Ragans managed to hold the Yankees to just one run and three hits over four innings, striking out five batters while walking four. Following Ragans, Kansas City's bullpen shone brightly, with four relievers combining to keep New York at bay. Angel Zerpa and John Schreiber each pitched hitless innings, while Kris Bubic added two scoreless frames to protect the lead. Lucas Erceg, who earned his third postseason save, faced some pressure in the ninth but ultimately secured the win, sealing it with a groundout from Gleyber Torres.

The turning point came in the fourth inning: after Perez equalized the score, the Royals took the lead with an RBI single from Tommy Pham and another from Garrett Hampson. Maikel Garcia, who was promoted to leadoff for this game, shone with a standout performance, notching four hits throughout the evening.

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge struggled again at the plate, managing only one hit and striking out four times in the series so far. His teammate Giancarlo Stanton had given New York an early edge with an RBI single, but the Yankees failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities, going just 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position that night and struggling overall with a mere 3 for 19 in the series.

The teams are set to head to Kansas City for Game 3 on Wednesday night, marking the Royals' first home playoff game since their World Series appearance in 2015. Ragans reflected on the upcoming game, stating it feels like a "brand-new series" as they move back to Kauffman Stadium.

As a note of concern for the Yankees, left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes is making strides in recovery from a left flexor strain. Boone reported that Cortes played catch on Sunday, raising hopes for his return.

Looking ahead to Game 3, the Yankees will send Clarke Schmidt to the mound for his first-ever postseason start. Meanwhile, the Royals will counter with Seth Lugo, who previously dazzled in a win against the Yankees just weeks prior, striking out 10 over seven innings.

With both teams showcasing their strengths and weaknesses thus far, the tension of the playoff series is set to escalate on home turf for the Royals – don't miss what promises to be an unforgettable Game 3 showdown!