Yankees 13, Royals 4

By Mike Whiteman April 19, 2026 On this day in 1973, new Yankee majority owner George Steinbrenner named Gabe Paul as club president. Paul had previously served in front office capacities for Cincinnati, Houston, and Cleveland. This was the first major move by the "Boss" to put his stamp on the team. Paul would go on to make some shrewd trades to acquire many of the mainstays of the 1977 and 1978 World Series champions.

https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/gabe-paul/ Quick Stats: The Yankees are 12-9 on the season, a half game out of first place in the American League East. The Yanks came into the game batting .203 in April and .212 for the young season. They ripped 11 hits, raising those marks to .211 and .218. It's progress! Will Warren is 2-0, 2.49 in five starts. Big Story: After a couple of shutout innings by each teams' starting pitchers the Yanks got the scoring going when Amed Rosario , Cody Bellinger, and Ben Rice hit home runs in the bottom of the third to put a five spot on the board. Yankees up 5-0.

The thing the pitcher beneficiary needs to do after that kind of inning is to set the other team down without allowing any runs. Will Warren did just that, in the top of the fourth, even picking off Bobby Witt who had led off the inning with a single. The Yanks piled on a couple more in the bottom of the frame when JC Escarra doubled in Jose Caballero and Bellinger followed up with an RBI single. Warren put up a zero in the fifth, and the sixth. The Yankees tacked on three runs in the sixth when Rosario singled in Caballero and Bellinger added his second two-run homer of the day. Warren yielded a two run homer to Carter Jensen in the seventh, but recovered and set down the next two batters for a solid seven-inning, eleven strikeout performance, second longest outing of his career. Yankees 10, Royals 2.

Escarra drove in two more in the seventh with a triple. Randal Grichuk's sacrifice fly drove in another in the eighth. Paul Blackburn spun a scoreless eighth and allowed two meaningless runs in the ninth. Yankees win, 13-4. Player of the Game: The best medicine for a struggling team is a good, deep start and Will Warren did just that. Notable Performances: Give one to Boone, after Ryan McMahon ripped the game winning home run Friday, he sat him yesterday in favor of Rosario....Bellinger raised his OPS over 100 points with his three hits, two home runs and a walk. Better to Forget: Giancarlo Stanton was 0-for-5 and has one hit in his last 21 plate appearances...Jazz Chisholm was also hitless and has one hit in his last 18 plate appearances Something tells me that when Jazz breaks out of his slump it will be in spectacular style. Here's hoping that will be soon! They Said It: "We're not worried about giving up one or two when they put up ten. It's real easy for me to go out there and do my job" - Will Warren. My Take: Just the kind of game the Yankees needed. Suddenly they have now won three of their last four games. Something I noted yesterday as I perused the standings: of the six 2025 American League playoff teams, the Yankees had the best 2026 record coming into play. The two teams to play in the ALCS - Toronto and Seattle - are both in last place. Still plenty of baseball to play. Next Up: Go for the sweep! Today's game is at 1:35. Ryan Weathers (0-2, 4.29) takes the mound against Cole Ragans (0-3, 3.78).