Good series, bad ending: 'Stuff is going to happen'

KANSAS CITY -- Two clutch hits from Juan Soto. Seven innings of two-run ball from Nestor Cortes. Clay Holmes headed to the mound for the save.

It’s a formula that has not only worked for the Yankees this season, it’s one that New York would sign up for night in and night out. But on Thursday, the equation met its rare rough patch.

Holmes, who is tied for the third most saves in baseball (19), blew his fourth of the season in the Yankees’ 4-3 loss to the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

The Bronx Bombers couldn’t complete their first four-game sweep at The K in franchise history, but they outscored Kansas City 28-12 and led for 28 of the 36 innings. Thursday ended on a sour note, but the Yankees played their game -- and put the ball into the hands of the one they trust most.

“All the confidence in the world [in Holmes]. Clay’s our closer,” Cortes said. “He’s done this for a few years, and he’s really good. Stuff is going to happen here and there. … [We hope he] keeps on pitching the way he’s been pitching.”

The Royals (40-30), who have had a knack for comebacks, started the rally with a one-out dribbler by Drew Waters between the pitcher’s mound and first base. Holmes and Anthony Rizzo couldn’t decide who should attack the ball, giving Waters a hit.

“It’s a tough play. We do practice that a lot in spring, but somehow, there’s always miscommunication going on, just because there’s three people trying to compete,” Cortes said. “Pitcher is trying to go after the ball, Rizzo is trying to go after the ball. It’s a mistake, but us as players, it’s a really hard thing for us to determine whether we need to go after a ball or go to first base. And to be honest, that probably happens nine more times than nine outs.”

Then, after MJ Melendez grounded into a forceout, Kyle Isbel kept the inning alive with a single after falling behind 0-2 before Maikel Garcia’s two-out, two-run double ended it.

Waters' hit not only ignited the Royals’ offense, which had been scoreless since the fourth, but it spoiled a solid day from Soto at the plate. Kansas City starter Alec Marsh no-hit the Yankees through six innings before Soto broke up the no-no with a hard-hit single to right on hanging changeup.

Soto then capped the three-run rally in the eighth by smacking a two-out go-ahead single, giving New York its first lead of the game. After back-to-back games with double-digit runs, it was a hit that displayed just how dangerous this Yankees team can be -- even when it has just two baserunners through the first six innings.

The club entered with a Major League-leading 356 runs scored, and the lineup could deepen if Rizzo’s past two games are a signal. The first baseman has recorded a hit in two straight contests after sitting out Sunday and Monday to work through a 1-for-29 stretch to start the month. His solo home run to lead off the eighth sparked New York’s three-run frame.

“Definitely feels good to do that, and to get us going there in the eighth,” Rizzo said. “Just shows [a lot] about our team. We’re down, not much going, and scored three runs there to give ourselves a chance to win. Just didn’t work out today.”

The bats were able to come through with only three runs because of Cortes, who faced three or four batters in five of his seven innings. He entered with a 6.17 ERA across seven road outings, but he attacked hitters with his fastball on the outside part of the zone to secure the 60th game this season that a Yankees starter has allowed three runs or fewer -- the best mark in the Majors.

Soto delivered, Rizzo flashed what his bat can do in the middle of the lineup and Cortes tossed yet another gem for New York. The result was a loss -- the only defeat in this series to a team with the most wins at home in the American League (24) -- but the Yankees had what they wanted going into the bottom of the ninth.

And Holmes? They’ll take his chances every day.

“All losses hurt, especially when you’re up and you’re leading but then again, [the Royals] are also professionals,” Cortes said. “They have a bat that they swing pretty well, and stuff just went their way that [ninth] inning. But overall, I think you let go of this one and you start a new series tomorrow in Boston.”