Max Fried and offense overpower Royals to halt Yankees’ two-game losing streak

Kansas City, Mo. — Max Fried’s season is looking strong.

The Yankees’ left-hander has really delivered in just two months on a hefty $218 million, eight-year contract. But in a crucial moment for the Yankees—especially after some losses—he managed to elevate his performance even further.

On Tuesday, following consecutive losses to the Red Sox, Fried stepped up big time, leading the Yankees to a solid 10-2 win over the Royals at Kaufman Stadium.

This season, with eight starts under his belt, Fried boasts an impressive record of 7-0 and a 0.83 ERA.

His battery mate, Austin Wells, made a significant contribution as well, driving in five runs during the game. Aaron Judge kicked things off with a bang, hitting a two-run homer that traveled a whopping 469 feet.

The Yankees (40-25) really took control of the game in the sixth inning, scoring five runs, with Wells’ two-run double being a key moment.

However, there was a bit of concern when Jazz Chisholm Jr. had to leave the game after a collision with Michael Garcia’s knee during the seventh inning.

Over the weekend, the Yankees scored 23 runs in three games against the Red Sox but still ended up losing two out of three because their starters struggled.

Tuesday’s matchup with the Royals (34-33) felt less daunting, with Fried putting in a solid performance. The Royals’ lineup doesn’t pose the same threats as the Red Sox.

The only real damage Fried faced was a home run from Jonathan India in the sixth inning, which briefly pulled the Royals closer at 10-2. They also managed to get runs in two different innings early on, but fell short against Fried’s consistent pitching.

Fried was impressive, showing dominance throughout the game. At one point, he recorded 11 consecutive wins and ended his outing having thrown just eight pitches in the seventh inning.

He maintained control by giving up only six hits, not walking anyone, and racking up four strikeouts, finishing the night with a 1.84 ERA for the season.

Royals’ pitcher Noah Cameron came into the game with three wins from his first five major league starts but was welcomed by Judge, who hit his seventh-longest home run ever in the first inning.

Wells had a lengthy at-bat, fouling off a couple of two-strike pitches before finishing the day with a three-run homer that widened their lead to 5-1 in the fourth inning.

He continued to shine in the sixth, hitting a two-run double after a tough at-bat against relief pitcher Taylor Clark, starting a chain of five consecutive hits that included RBIs from Trent Grisham, Judge, and Cody Bellinger.

This explosive inning marked the 16th time this season that the Yankees have scored more than five runs in an inning, which is significantly more than last year’s total.