In a back-and-forth Game 1 of the ALDS, it wasn't Gerrit Cole, Juan Soto or even Aaron Judge who played the hero.
It was Alex Verdugo who hit the winning hit in a game where the lead changed hands in the fifth inning of the Yankees-Royals game Saturday night at Stadium.
Verdugo, who had struggled at the plate for most of the season, singled to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning, driving Jazz Chisholm home from second base and breaking a tied game.
After the Royals took an early 1-0 lead, Gleyber Torres opened the scoring for the Yankees with a two-run home run in the third inning.
Cole wasn't at his best, allowing four runs (three earned) over five innings.
But the bullpen kept Kansas City at bay as new closer Luke Weaver got the final four outs in his first postseason appearance.
