Public Loves Bombers
A come-from-behind victory helped the New York Yankees clinch their third straight home series, and their next opponent might help them extend their recent success at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees will try to beat the lowly Kansas City Royals – losers of 11 straight on the road – in New York for a sixth consecutive time as the teams open a four-game set on Friday.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made New York –214 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 83% of bets for this game have been placed on New York -214 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
New York (30-30) took two of three from Toronto, wrapping up the series with a 9-8 win on Thursday. Jason Giambi, who was out of the starting lineup for a second straight day with a sore left foot, had a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the ninth inning that capped a five-run rally for the team’s biggest comeback this season.
The Yankees also received a boost with Jorge Posada back in the lineup for the first time since April 28. The All-Star catcher, who was sidelined with right rotator cuff tendinitis, was activated Wednesday and finished 1-for-3.
"That’s the great (thing) about this game," Giambi told the Yankees’ official Web site after his team-leading 12th home run. "You can go from zero to hero in a second. We got away with one, and hopefully, it will propel us forward."
The Yankees have won seven of their last eight home games in winning each of the three series. It is their longest such run at home since winning six in a row from July 2-Aug. 5, a stretch that concluded with a three-game home sweep of the Royals.
New York is 22-2 against the Royals at home since the start of 2001, winning the last five played at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees dropped two of three at Kansas City (23-37) from April 8-10, but have won 10 of the last 13 games between the teams overall.
On Thursday, Wilson Betemit added a two-run homer for the Yankees, who totaled 14 hits and scored at least nine runs for the sixth time this season.
New York looks to provide similar offensive support for Darrell Rasner, who has received just one run in losing his last two starts.
Rasner (3-2, 2.67 ERA) gave up season highs of four runs and eight hits over 5 1-3 innings in a 5-1 defeat at Minnesota on Sunday. It was the first time in five starts the right-hander failed to pitch at least six innings and hold his opponent to two runs or fewer.
Rasner, who is 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two home starts this year, has never faced Kansas City.
The Royals are one road defeat of tying their franchise record for a second time, originally established when they lost 12 straight from June 28-July 13, 1997, and equaled April 11-May 3, 2006.
Kansas City’s road woes continued Thursday in a 6-2 loss to the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox.
"I’m upset that we can’t figure out the process a little quicker," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "I have said this many times, but that’s my responsibility to make sure we get this."
Kansas City has won just two of its last 17 games overall, and starter Kyle Davies (1-0, 1.80) is responsible for one of those victories.
The right-hander gave up one run and five hits over five innings on Saturday, helping the Royals end a season-high 12-game losing streak with a 4-2 home win over Cleveland.
In Davies’ lone start against the Yankees, he left without a decision after giving up five runs and six hits over three innings in a 16-8 defeat in New York on Aug. 4.
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