NEW YORK _ While an injury to Aaron Judge is a cause for concern for the Yankees, Sonny Gray's recent results have been a source of optimism.
Gray put together a third straight solid outing Thursday night and Didi Gregorius hit a three-run homer to lead the Yankees to a 7-2 win over Kansas City in front of 46,965 fans at Yankee Stadium. He struck out five and allowed three hits and two walks in five shutout innings, after allowing only two runs total in his previous two starts.
It was not all good news for the Yankees though, as Judge left the game in the fourth inning with a wrist injury. He was hit by a pitch on his right wrist in the first, and though he stayed in the game initially, he was pinch hit for and taken for an MRI, the team announced.
The Yankees (65-36) did not need Judge's bat as Gray ensured that the Royals' offense (last in MLB in runs) continued to struggle.
The Royals mounted only two real threats against Gray (8-7, 5.08 ERA), who pitched out of both of them. After retiring the first seven Royals, he struck out Mike Moustakas with the bases loaded to end the third.
Two innings later, Gray struck out Rosell Herrera with two outs and runners on second and third. The righty was hit on his throwing hand by a comebacker off Alex Gordon's bat to open the inning, but stayed in the game.
Gray had a 5.85 ERA in his first 17 starts, but a mark of 1.10 with 19 strikeouts over 16 1/3 innings in his last three. Those outings came against the subpar Orioles, Mets and Royals lineups, but if he continues to pitch well, it would be another shot in the arm for a rotation that added J.A. Happ from Toronto earlier Thursday.
Another addition, Zach Britton, retired the side in order in the eighth inning. Britton joined the team Thursday after being acquired in a trade with Baltimore on Tuesday.
The Yankees offense did its part as well against the Royals (31-71), as it scored all seven runs on struggling starter Jakob Junis (5-11, 5.06 ERA), including Gregorius' home run in the fourth inning. Giancarlo Stanton opened the scoring with a first-inning sacrifice fly that scored Judge and later in the inning shortstop Adalberto Mondesi misplayed a Gleyber Torres' grounder that allowed Gregorius to score.
An RBI double from Austin Romine earlier in the fourth and a sacrifice fly from Greg Bird an inning later rounded out the scoring for the Yankees.
Kansas City got on the board in the sixth inning when Moustakas hit a two-run home run off Adam Warren.
