
Suns end Warriors' season, await No. 1 Thunder
Suns end Warriors' season with 111-96 win, set to face Thunder
Ryan McMahon hit a crucial two-run homer in the eighth inning, leading the New York Yankees to a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals. This marked McMahon's first extra-base hit of the season after struggling significantly at the plate.
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NEW YORK (AP) â Stuck in a slump all season, Ryan McMahon found himself on the bench Friday for the second consecutive game. Lo and behold, his only swing was the biggest one of the night. 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. âIt felt good, just to do something to help the team win. Itâs no secret Iâve been struggling a little bit. So get that off my chest and I feel really good about it,â McMahon said. âI was excited for the opportunity. Just happy to put a good one up.â It was the first extra-base hit this year for McMahon, who began the night batting .119 (5 for 42) with two RBIs. âLook, this game will bring you to your knees. Even the best of the best,â Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. âThe good ones handle it and deal with it. But youâre 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 itâs hard and itâs a grind and youâre looking for little things in certain weeks to give you a little bit of confidence.â 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. Before the game, Boone said McMahon has been working on his swing behind the scenes and the manager insisted heâs seen some positive signs lately. But he also said heâd 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 â including Wacha. Boone also said Rosario had earned more opportunities with his productive play. After the game, Boone was asked if he thought McMahon was motivated by his diminished playing time. âI donât think so," Boone said. âI think heâs been working really hard and, look, I know he hasnât had necessarily the results, but we do feel like heâs kind of moved the needle in the last week with what heâs working on. So I donât think it affected anything one way or another." McMahon said he probably spent the first six or seven innings taking swings inside. âYou want to play good for the men in the room with you. It doesnât feel good letting your brothers down, especially the guys you grind with every single day. Iâve been sick and tired of it, honestly,â he said. The score was tied 2-all when singled off Kansas City reliever 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. âSo happy for him,â said Rice, who launched a two-run homer in the fourth. âIâm here with him early all the time. Weâre always hitting at the same time, like 2 oâclock before the games, and I see all the work he puts into it. Heâs a ballplayer, man. Heâs going to grind. Heâs going to help you in a lot of ways out there and tonight was a great example.â Boone was thrilled to see McMahon come through. âYou 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.â McMahon, 31, was acquired for two minor league pitchers in a trade with last July to provide a strong glove at third base and some pop from the left side of the plate. He was an NL All-Star in 2024 and has 145 homers in 10 major league seasons â including at least 20 in every full season since 2019. âI think itâs important," Boone said. "Heâs had success in this league for a while, so he knows heâs capable. But when youâre going through it, it can be tough. And I feel like heâs hit a couple of balls to the left where heâs 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.â \\_ AP freelance writer Larry Fleisher contributed to this report. \\_ AP MLB:
Ryan McMahon hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, securing a 4-2 victory for the Yankees.
Before the game, McMahon was batting .119 with only five hits and two RBIs in 42 at-bats.
Aaron Boone expressed excitement for McMahon's big at-bat and noted that he has been working hard despite his struggles.
McMahon was benched due to his ongoing slump and the Yankees' decision to start Amed Rosario against Royals right-hander Michael Wacha.

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