Thursday night’s series finale at Kauffman Stadium featured an old-school pitchers’ duel between Will Warren and Seth Lugo.
But it was Paul Goldschmidt’s go-ahead RBI single in the top of the eighth that gave the Yankees the 1-0 victory and complete the sweep of the Kansas City Royals.
Warren put up zero after zero as the right-hander tossed 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and striking out four. The 25-year-old bounced back after a poor performance against the Red Sox on June 6 — four earned runs over 5.1 innings.
The neophyte lowered his season ERA to 4.86.
Meanwhile, Lugo was equally as brilliant. The veteran threw 5.2 scoreless innings of his own, allowing just two hits while striking out two. A rain in the sixth innings likely capped both of the right-handers’ outings.
The Yanks called upon Tim Hill in the sixth to relieve Warren and he tossed a scoreless frame. Mark Leiter Jr. recorded the final out of the seventh before handing the ball off to Jonathan Loaisiga in the eighth as the right-hander kept the train moving with a perfect inning.
Devin Williams — who re-assumed closing duties after Luke Weaver’s injury — closed the door in the ninth as the game went final at 1-0.
The Bombers’ offense was silent without its Captain as Aaron Judge received his first off night of the season before the Yanks head to Fenway Park on Friday for a three-game set with the Red Sox.
Aaron Boone is set to throw out three left-handers over the weekend as Ryan Yarbrough, Carlos Rodon and Max Fried will toe the slab against Garrett Crochet, Hunter Dobbins and Brayan Bello
