The Royals lost 1-0 to the Yankees on June 13, 2025, after a costly error by Lucas Erceg wasted a gem from Alec Marsh. Read how a bizarre play led to a sweep.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a painful case of déjà vu at Kauffman Stadium on Friday night. In a game dominated by stellar pitching, a single moment of chaos was all it took for the New York Yankees to clinch a 1-0 victory, completing a three-game sweep and extending the Royals' winless streak against their pinstriped rivals this season. A brilliant start from Alec Marsh was erased in the eighth inning by a bizarre infield single and a costly throwing error, leaving fans with a familiar, frustrating feeling.
The Royals were swept in the season series by the Yankees, who finished 6-0 against Kansas City in 2025.
For nearly seven innings, Alec Marsh was untouchable. He carved through the potent Yankees lineup, pitching 6.2 shutout innings while allowing just four hits and striking out six. It was the kind of ace-like performance that should anchor a victory. But baseball can be cruel. In the eighth inning, the game unraveled. With Pablo Reyes on second, Paul Goldschmidt hit a chopper that Vinnie Pasquantino deflected with a dive. Reliever Lucas Erceg (1-2), covering the bag, fielded the ball but his throw to nab Goldschmidt went awry, allowing Reyes to sprint home for the game's only run. It was a single, chaotic play that decided the entire game and handed Erceg the unfortunate loss.
While the error will be the main story, the Royals' bats gave their pitchers zero room for error. The offense was stifled all night, managing just five hits against the Yankees' staff. The frustration culminated in the bottom of the ninth. Facing elite closer Devin Williams, the Royals had a chance to be heroes. Instead, prized rookie Jac Caglianone, representing the tying run, was caught looking at a full-count fastball to end the game. It was a tough lesson for the young slugger and a perfect encapsulation of an offense that has struggled to produce against top-tier pitching.
This loss wasn't just about one game; it was about a trend. The Royals are now 0-6 against the Yankees in 2025, having been outplayed and outmaneuvered in every meeting. This comes after New York also eliminated Kansas City from the 2024 postseason. For a team with ambitions of contending in the AL Central, the inability to solve the Yankees is a glaring issue. It's the benchmark they have yet to meet, a persistent problem that separates them from the American League's elite.
This one stings, there's no way around it. Getting swept, especially in this fashion, is a gut punch. But the season is a marathon, not a sprint defined by six games against a single opponent. The Royals have to flush this series, find the offensive spark that has gone missing, and prove that the Yankee problem is a hurdle, not a wall. The AL Central is still within reach, but games like these are the ones they'll need to start winning to make a serious run.
