Ryan McMahon started Friday night’s game against Kansas City on the bench thanks to one of the worst starts to the season of any hitter in the majors.
He entered as a defensive replacement, with the Yankees clinging to a one-run lead in the top of the eighth.
So, naturally, he came up in the most important at-bat of the game.
And this time, McMahon — who hadn’t had an extra-base hit all season or driven in a run since Opening Day — delivered in a 4-2 win in The Bronx.
McMahon’s opposite-field two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth came after Camilo Doval gave up the lead in the top of the inning and following Ben Rice’s two-out single.
“It’s no secret I’ve been struggling a little bit,’’ said McMahon, who entered with the second-worst slugging percentage in the majors of anyone with more than 40 plate appearances. “This game is super humbling. All you can do is keep working.”
That’s what McMahon did, hitting in the cages throughout the first half of the game before he replaced Amed Rosario at third to start the eighth and the Yankees up by a run.
His approach didn’t change, even when Aaron Boone told him heading into this series his playing time would be sparse, as the Yankees are set to face lefty starters against both the Royals and the Red Sox in Boston next week.
“He’s had success for a while,” Boone said. “He knows he’s capable, but when you’re going through it, it can be tough. … This game will bring you to your knees. The good ones handle it.”
David Bednar closed it in the ninth as the Yankees won for just the third time in their last 10 games.
It came against a Royals team that’s in a five-game losing streak and has dropped nine consecutive games to the Yankees — dating back to the 2024 ALDS.
Cam Schlittler provided another excellent start, allowing just an unearned run in six-plus innings.
The right-hander retired the first 11 batters he faced, perfect until Vinnie Pasquantino singled to left with two outs in the fourth.
In the sixth, holding a two-run lead provided by Rice’s homer in the fourth off the excellent Michael Wacha, the Yankees faltered.
Schlittler walked Maikel García with one out — just Schlitter’s second walk of the season.
But Schlittler then got Bobby Witt Jr. to hit a fly ball to deep center, where the slumping Trent Grisham camped under it — and had it bounce off his glove for a two-base error.
With runners on second and third and one out, Pasquantino grounded to first to score García and make it 2-1 before Schlittler got Salvador Pérez to finish the inning.
The first two batters reached in the seventh off Schlittler and lefty Brent Headrick entered. He struck out Jac Caglianone, got pinch hitter Jonanthan India to pop out and, after making a throwing error into center on a pickoff attempt, got another pinch hitter, Starling Marte, on a comebacker to preserve the one-run lead.
But Doval took over in the eighth and allowed a game-tying, two-out solo shot to Pasquantino that just reached the stands in right.
The Yankees bounced back, as Rice continued to mash and delivered a two-out single to set up McMahon.
“You want to play [well],” McMahon said. “It doesn’t feel good letting your brothers down. I’ve been sick and tired of it, honestly.”
Despite the lengthy drought, McMahon said his attitude hasn’t changed: “It’s always the same. Go win the game.”
On Friday, he — and the Yankees — did.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source celebrity.land ’
