<\/p>\n
New York Yankees’ Ryan McMahon, right, celebrates with third base coach Luis Rojas as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, April 17, 2026, in New York.<\/p>\n
Frank Franklin II\/AP<\/p>\n
New York Yankees’ Ryan McMahon hits a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, April 17, 2026, in New York.<\/p>\n
Frank Franklin II\/AP<\/p>\n
New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, right, celebrates with Ryan McMahon, center, and Austin Wells after a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, April 17, 2026, in New York.<\/p>\n
Frank Franklin II\/AP<\/p>\n
NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Stuck in a slump all season, Ryan McMahon found himself on the bench Friday for the second consecutive game.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Lo and behold, his only swing was the biggest one of the night.<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
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 a 4-2 victory over the scuffling Kansas City Royals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt good, just to do something to help the team win. It\u2019s no secret I\u2019ve been struggling a little bit. So get that off my chest and I feel really good about it,\u201d McMahon said. \u201cI was excited for the opportunity. Just happy to put a good one up.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was the first extra-base hit this year for McMahon, who began the night batting .119 (5 for 42) with two RBIs.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, this game will bring you to your knees. Even the best of the best,\u201d Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
\u201cThe good ones handle it and deal with it. But you\u2019re 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\u2019s hard and it\u2019s a grind and you\u2019re looking for little things in certain weeks to give you a little bit of confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Before the game, Boone said McMahon has been working on his swing behind the scenes and the manager insisted he\u2019s seen some positive signs lately. But he also said he\u2019d 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 \u2014 including Wacha.<\/p>\n
Boone also said Rosario had earned more opportunities with his productive play.<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
After the game, Boone was asked if he thought McMahon was motivated by his diminished playing time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think so,” Boone said. \u201cI think he\u2019s been working really hard and, look, I know he hasn\u2019t had necessarily the results, but we do feel like he\u2019s kind of moved the needle in the last week with what he\u2019s working on. So I don\u2019t think it affected anything one way or another.”<\/p>\n
McMahon said he probably spent the first six or seven innings taking swings inside.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to play good for the men in the room with you. It doesn\u2019t feel good letting your brothers down, especially the guys you grind with every single day. I\u2019ve been sick and tired of it, honestly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo happy for him,\u201d said Rice, who launched a two-run homer in the fourth. \u201cI\u2019m here with him early all the time. We\u2019re always hitting at the same time, like 2 o\u2019clock before the games, and I see all the work he puts into it. He\u2019s a ballplayer, man. He\u2019s going to grind. He\u2019s going to help you in a lot of ways out there and tonight was a great example.\u201d<\/p>\n
Boone was thrilled to see McMahon come through.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He was an NL All-Star in 2024 and has 145 homers in 10 major league seasons \u2014 including at least 20 in every full season since 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s important,” Boone said. “He\u2019s had success in this league for a while, so he knows he\u2019s capable. But when you\u2019re going through it, it can be tough. And I feel like he\u2019s hit a couple of balls to the left where he\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n
AP freelance writer Larry Fleisher contributed to this report.<\/p>\n