NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Stuck in a slump all season, Ryan McMahon found himself on the bench Friday for the second consecutive game.
Lo and behold, his only swing was the biggest one of the night.
McMahon entered for defense at third base and then snapped an eighth-inning tie with a two-run homer that sent the New York Yankees to over the scuffling Kansas City Royals.
鈥淚t felt good, just to do something to help the team win. It鈥檚 no secret I鈥檝e been struggling a little bit. So get that off my chest and I feel really good about it,鈥� McMahon said. 鈥淚 was excited for the opportunity. Just happy to put a good one up.鈥�
It was the first extra-base hit this year for McMahon, who began the night batting .119 (5 for 42) with two RBIs.
鈥淟ook, this game will bring you to your knees. Even the best of the best,鈥� Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
鈥淭he good ones handle it and deal with it. But you鈥檙e always grinding through, even guys that are going to play in the All-Star Game and have outstanding seasons this year are going to go through stretches where it鈥檚 hard and it鈥檚 a grind and you鈥檙e looking for little things in certain weeks to give you a little bit of confidence.鈥�
Even against Royals right-hander Michael Wacha, the left-handed-hitting McMahon was left out of the starting lineup in favor of Amed Rosario, a right-handed hitter.
Before the game, Boone said McMahon has been working on his swing behind the scenes and the manager insisted he鈥檚 seen some positive signs lately. But he also said he鈥檇 spoken to McMahon and explained his plan to mostly sit him over the next few games with New York set to face several left-handers and a couple of righties who are particularly tough on left-handed batters 鈥� including Wacha.
Boone also said Rosario had earned more opportunities with his productive play.
After the game, Boone was asked if he thought McMahon was motivated by his diminished playing time.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think so,” Boone said. 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 been working really hard and, look, I know he hasn鈥檛 had necessarily the results, but we do feel like he鈥檚 kind of moved the needle in the last week with what he鈥檚 working on. So I don鈥檛 think it affected anything one way or another.”
McMahon said he probably spent the first six or seven innings taking swings inside.
鈥淵ou want to play good for the men in the room with you. It doesn鈥檛 feel good letting your brothers down, especially the guys you grind with every single day. I鈥檝e been sick and tired of it, honestly,鈥� he said.
The score was tied 2-all when Ben Rice singled off Kansas City reliever Alex Lange with two outs in the eighth. McMahon, who entered at third in the top of the inning, lofted a 2-1 changeup 372 feet the other way to left field, and the ball appeared to get a push from the wind as it cleared the fence.
鈥淪o happy for him,鈥� said Rice, who launched a two-run homer in the fourth. 鈥淚鈥檓 here with him early all the time. We鈥檙e always hitting at the same time, like 2 o鈥檆lock before the games, and I see all the work he puts into it. He鈥檚 a ballplayer, man. He鈥檚 going to grind. He鈥檚 going to help you in a lot of ways out there and tonight was a great example.鈥�
Boone was thrilled to see McMahon come through.
鈥淵ou get excited for people,” the skipper said. “It was a huge, huge at-bat, obviously. I think he was hitting for about the whole game down underneath. So, obviously ready for it. Put a good swing on it on a crazy night.鈥�
McMahon, 31, was acquired for two minor league pitchers in a trade with Colorado last July to provide a strong glove at third base and some pop from the left side of the plate.
He was an NL All-Star in 2024 and has 145 homers in 10 major league seasons 鈥� including at least 20 in every full season since 2019.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important,” Boone said. “He鈥檚 had success in this league for a while, so he knows he鈥檚 capable. But when you鈥檙e going through it, it can be tough. And I feel like he鈥檚 hit a couple of balls to the left where he鈥檚 been close like that, and this one he gets enough of it. Yeah, just excited for him to come up in such a big spot.鈥�
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AP freelance writer Larry Fleisher contributed to this report.
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