Yankees rally late, beat Royals in Game 2 | Rapid reaction

The Yankees’ two-run eighth pushed them over the Royals in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

NEW YORK — The day was salvaged.

But the truth was gross as the hot, thick air hanging in the Bronx.

The mighty Yankees needed some serious straining just to split a doubleheader with one of the worst teams in baseball.

A 5-4 win over the Royals at night came after a 10-5 afternoon thumping at the hands of Kansas City, which resides in the American League Central cellar, at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

The twinbill was necessary following Friday night’s rainout.

Both games shared bad starting pitching for the Yankees, who saw Luis Severino get shelled before CC Sabathia couldn’t even make it into the sixth innings against a garbage offense that had just traded away its No. 3 hitter in Mike Moustakas less than a day before.

But the nightcap saw the Yankees pulled out a late rally.

Their two-run fifth inning — highlighted by Greg Bird’s solo homer to tie it and Aaron Hicks’ go-ahead sacrifice fly  — separated them.

Aroldis Chapman saved it for the Yankees after the bullpen almost ruined it. Chapman, however, made it interesting by putting runners on the corners with two outs. He struck out Whit Merrifield with a slider looking to finish the win.

What it means

The win improved the Yankees to 66-37. They’re 5-6 in their last 11 games.

Second-place New York started the day five games back of the first-place Red Sox in the American League East. Boston was facing the Twins.

Bullpen nearly blows it

Newcomer Zach Britton melted down in the seventh.

Britton got two outs to start the inning. Then he gave up a double (Hunter Dozier), an infield single (Brian Goodwin) and a walk (Alcides Escobar).

With four more pitches, he would walk Drew Butera to let a run score and Kansas City would jump ahead, 4-3.

In the sixth, Jonathan Holder put two runners on base and Chad Green surrendered an RBI single to Rosell Herrera, tying the game at 3-all.

Early lead

The Yankees spotted CC Sabathia a two-run lead in the first inning and weree up 3-1 after four frames. By the sixth, the advantage was gone.

Brett Gardner and Giancarlo hit back-to-bat singles to start the inning. With one out, Miguel Andujar hit a grounder for a single to second base and Gardner scored. After Greg Bird was hit on the knee cap with a curveball, Neil Walker’s scrafirice fly to deep right scored Stanton.

The Yankees got their third run when the diminutive Shane Robinson crushed a solo shot to left field. It was his first homer as a Yankee and his first blast since June 4, 2016, when he was with the Angels.

Sabathia … not great

Sabathia became the second Yankees starting pitcher of the day to tax the bullpen. He lasted 4 2/3 innings — just an out longer than Luis Severino. He was much better, though.

Sabathia gave up three runs and had to get bailed out of a bases loaded spot. With the bags full, Sabathia’s slider missed just inside to walk in a run and bring the Royals within a run. Immediately, manager Aaron Boone pulled him, and Jonathan Holder struck out Hunter Dozier to get out of it.

Sabathia also loaded the bases in the first inning but escaped unscathed.

It was Sabathia’s third straight rough start. He gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings in Cleveland on July 14, and he surrendered five runs in five innings vs. Baltimore on July 9.

NEXT

Yankees lefty J.A. Happ (10-6, 4.18 ERA) vs. Royals righty Burch Smith (1-1, 5.58 ERA) at 1:05 p.m. at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.