Yankees' Ryan McMahon still figuring out path to consistency, but clutch homer vs. Royals shows potential
Ryan McMahon wasn't planned to take an at-bat, let alone a meaningful one, but he came up big with a two-run homer to give the Yankees a win over the Royals.
When Ryan McMahon stepped to the plate in the eighth inning of a 2-2 game for his first at-bat of the game, the Yankee Stadium crowd showered him with boos. McMahon had become the embodiment of Yankees fans frustrations in the early weeks of the season, and it's hard to blame them. Entering Friday's game, the third baseman had just five hits, all singles.
When the team got off to an 8-2 start, McMahon's struggles weren't a big deal. A losing streak and inconsistent offense have turned the Yankees' record closer to . 500 and every out made by McMahon was magnified.
Heck, the Yankees said before Friday's game that McMahon was benched for the Royals series and probably the upcoming Red Sox series so he can continue to tinker with his swing. The plan wasn't for McMahon to get an at-bat, let alone a meaningful one. But baseball seems to always find you, and it did on Friday night.
McMahon launched a 2-1 changeup down in the zone over the left field wall for the game-winner of the Yankees' 4-2 victory. Those boos quickly turned to cheers as McMahon rounded the bases with a roar and his teammates waited to celebrate with him. "You get excited for people and that was a huge at-bat, obviously," manager Aaron Boone said after the game.