Sat Apr 19 01:10:00 UTC 2025: **Yankees Sweep Royals Behind Judge’s Game-Winning Homer, Bellinger’s Diving Catch**
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge broke a 10-game homer drought with a tie-breaking solo shot in the seventh inning, leading the New York Yankees to a 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night and completing a three-game sweep. Judge’s blast, his first since April 4th, came off John Schreiber and sailed into the bullpen. The star slugger finished 3-for-4, raising his batting average to a major league-leading .409.
The Yankees’ victory was further secured by Cody Bellinger’s spectacular diving catch in right field in the ninth, robbing MJ Melendez of a hit and preserving Fernando Cruz’s first career save.
Clarke Schmidt made his season debut for the Yankees, pitching 5 2/3 innings and allowing three runs on four hits. Anthony Volpe’s two-run double and Bellinger’s RBI double had earlier given the Yankees a 3-1 lead. However, the Royals rallied to tie the game in the fifth.
Kris Bubic started for Kansas City, allowing three runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. Mark Leiter Jr. and Cruz provided scoreless relief for New York.
The Royals begin a four-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, while the Yankees face the Tampa Bay Rays in a four-game series.
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