Yankees, Royals split in Royal opener

by Clayton Maxwell

 

KANSAS CITY -- Much like their matchup in last year's ALCS, this two-game series between the Yankees and Royals this week was oh-so-close.

The Yankees, who were undefeated coming into the game, played the Royals to a 1-1 split.  New York took game 1 after weak pitching by Paul Splittorff enabled them to run up a 5-run second inning.  Lou Piniella had two of the Yankees 12 hits and added two crucial RBI's.  The final was 7-4.

In game 2, Royals' starter Andy Hassler pitched a gem.  He threw 8 innings of 5-hit ball, allowing just a single unearned run.  The Royals opened the scoring in the 3rd and 4th and never looked back.  Tom Poquette, who has been on absolute fire the past few days, led off the scoring in the 3rd with an RBI triple, which was followed by a sac fly.  In the fourth, Amos Otis, who had a good game overall (2-for-3, SB), hit a homerun, which was followed up by 3 Royal singles that added another run.

All things considered, it was a tight series that suggests of a long summer battle between the two clubs.