Last time in New York, I was following Steely Dan on tour as they accompanied the Eagles on their “Long Goodbye” – that was the Eagles goodbye, not the Dan’s (but who can tell). This time I’m once more working on a commission to watch baseball and report on the New York Yankees. Tough life.

Having flown into JFK on the 9th, I took a “jetlag” day on the 10th, and reported to the Stadium on the 11th. Significant date. 23rd anniversary of that horrible day. The Yankees placed their memorials. Police officers sang the National Anthem and God Bless America.

Luis Gil who has come back from injury was on the mound for the Yankees. The game started with a fly out from Tommy Pham, but after that Gil began to struggle. Bobby Witt jr hit a double for Kansas City Royals, and then Gil issued walks to Salvador Perez and MJ Melendez. From nowhere the Royals had the bases loaded. Gil achieved a second out, striking out Freddy Fermin. The Yankees got out of the jam with Michael Massey grounding out to Anthony Rizzo. Rizzo delivered an accomplished piece of fielding, and it was time for the Yankees to bat for the first time.

Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto both struck out. Cole Ragans for the Royals was already in his stride and looking dominant. A soft pop out from Aaron Judge closed the inning.

Fortunately, Gil had now also begun to look more like himself and he closed out the top of the 2nd 1-2-3. Unfortunately, the Yankees still hadn’t had a hit by the time the second closed. They were still very much in it, but it didn’t look like he was going to make it easy for themselves.

In the third, Pham picked up a single on a line drive to right field, and then with one out, advanced to second on a Gil wild pitch. However, Gil got Perez and Melendez out easily enough.

The Yankees finally got a hit in third with Rizzo, who was looking like a bright spark amongst the deadwood, hitting on a single to centerfield. Nothing else of any note followed, and when Torres struck out swinging, the Royals were heading back into the dugout.

2nd baseman, Michael Massey hit one into the stands into the top of the fourth. Rizzo responded to that with more athletic fielding to put out Adam Frazier. The Yankees were 1-0 behind in the middle of the 4th.

The Yankees, again, did not produce in the bottom of the 4th. The Royals walked Judge, but Jazz Chisholm jr grounded into a force out.

There were two singles for Kansas City in the top of the 5th with Pham and Perez both getting on base, but despite Gil looking less and less convincing, they couldn’t bring anybody home.

Alex Verdugo hit a single to open the bottom of the 5th, but he was too hasty to head for 2nd and Pham and shortstop Bobby Witt jr combined to throw him out. The Yankees gained no other chances and the first half of the regular game showed the Royals to be on top and most likely to win this one.

Wisely, the Yankees brought in Tim Hill for Luis Gil. With two outs, Robbie Grossman pinch hit for Adam Frazier and added a single to the Kansas City tally – 6 hits, but significantly only one run.

And then the momentum shifted. And you’re never likely to see such a moment again. With one out, Torres walked. Next up, Soto was on two strikes. He fouled one off his bat which hit him in the joint between his ankle and his foot. Trying to walk it off, he went to one knee and coaches and teammates gathered around. It looked like he was going to be leaving the game. After a lengthy time (it seemed longer) Soto was able to resume… and the very next pitch, he lofted to right field for a home run. Amazing. The Yankees led 2-1.

In the 7th, the Yankees lifted Hill for Clay Holmes. Now, let’s say that confidence in Holmes is not sky high right now, and the fans are letting him know it. Why you would do this to one of your own I don’t know – particularly the guy who more than any other thrives on confidence. The boo birds laid into him. It got worse when he gave up singles to Kyle Isbel and Pham. A line out for Witt moved Isbel to third and a sacrifice fly from Perez brought Isbel hoe. 2-2. Jose Trevino gave up a passed ball and it looked like there might be more for Kansas in this inning. Thankfully, Holmes recovered from his burden enough to strikeout Melendez. 2-2.

Pitcher Sam Long replaced Ragans who had been effective. With one out, he gave up a single to Anthony Volpe and then walked Rizzo. The Yankees brought in pinch runner Oswaldo Cabrera for Anthony Rizzo, who had been excellent. Then there was confusion. It looked like Volpe might score, but he was thrown out at home. Trevino seemed to have evaded a tag, but the Royals appealed the decision, and a double play was the outcome. End of inning.

Tommy Kahnle, who has been so good recently replaced Holmes, and put the Royals 1-2-3 in in the eighth including striking out Paul DeJong.

Aaron Judge gave the Yankees a single in the bottom of the eighth, but Chisholm struck out to end the inning. Lucas Erceg was now pitching for Kansas City.

Jake Cousins pitched the 9th for the Yankees and had two outs before he walked Pham. Not to be discouraged he picked Pham off first. One more chance for the Yankees to win it in normal innings.

It was a chance they never looked like taking with Erceg dominating. Extra innings and all this ghost runner nonsense.

Pham was the runner due on 2nd as the inning opened, but they lifted him for Dairon Blanco. Then Witt struck out, but the previously spotless Cousins alloed Blanco to steal third, and then clearly rattled Cousins threw a wild pitch. 3-2. The Yankees do not have the best record in these extra innings scenarios.

When Cousins also walked Perez, it was time for him to take the walk back to the dugout. Luke Weaver came in and the Royals again lifted their runner with Garrett Hampson coming in for Perez.

Weaver caused Melendez to fly out, and struck out Fermin. But now the Yankees needed one in the bottom of the 10th to stay alive.

Kris Bubic became the pitcher, and the speedy Anthony Volpe was on second. A sac bunt from Oswaldo Cabrera moved Volpe to third. The Yankees decided to bring on pinch hitter Austin Wells for Trevino, who frankly was not having a great game. With one out, Wells hit a sacrifice fly and Volpe scored. 3-3. A line out from Torres ended from the inning, and moved things into the eleventh.

Weaver made Massey fly out and then struck out De Jong and Maikel Garcia while Fermin stood idly at second waiting for a chance that never looked like coming.

Jon Berti was placed on second for the Yankees instead of Torres. Soto grounded out, but it gave Berti the ability to move to third. It was beginning to look like the Yankees might snatch this thing. Kansas attempted to alleviate the tension by intentionally walking Judge, but there are not many batters who are easy to pitch to in this line-up.

Judge took 2nd on defensive indifference with Chishom at the plate. A sparky little single from Jazz, allowed Berti to score. No outs, Judge advanced to third. 4-3. The Yankees had it.

And the voice of Frank Sinatra hit the night air… “Start spreading the news…”