Domínguez's clutch 3-run double sends Fried and Yankees to 4-2 win over Royals

NEW YORK (AP) — Jasson Domínguez went 3 for 3 with a three-run double that put the New York Yankees ahead in the sixth inning of a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

Max Fried (3-0) struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings and the Yankees erased a 2-0 deficit with a four-run sixth aided by three straight two-out walks. New York will go for a three-game sweep Wednesday in a rematch of an AL Division Series won by the Yankees over the Royals in four games last October.

MJ Melendez homered and Bobby Witt Jr. hit an RBI double off the right-center fence in the third for the Royals, who lost for the fourth time in five games and fell to 2-6 on the road. They have dropped 19 of their past 20 completed series against the Yankees since May 2015, including the playoffs.

Luke Weaver retired Maikel Garcia with two runners on to end the seventh and set down all four batters he faced. Devin Williams worked a perfect ninth for his third save.

Michael Wacha (0-3) was working on a four-hit shutout when he walked Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe to load the bases in the sixth. Angel Zerpa entered and, struggling to hear his PitchCom device, walked Austin Wells on four pitches to force in a run.

Domínguez, who singled twice batting left-handed against Wacha, then lined a 1-2 fastball down the left-field line hitting right-handed against Zerpa and knocked his own helmet off his head with his follow through.

Defensive replacement Trent Grisham made a fine running catch in deep center field with a runner aboard to help thwart a potential Royals rally in the seventh.

Melendez was batting .077 with one extra-base hit this season when he homered into the New York bullpen leading off the third to snap an 0-for-18 skid.

Royals LHP Kris Bubic (2-1, 0.96 ERA) starts the series finale Wednesday night against RHP Clarke Schmidt, scheduled to make his season debut after recovering from rotator cuff tendinitis.

Schmidt was 5-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 16 starts last season, and the Yankees hope his return can boost a scuffling rotation minus ace Gerrit Cole and 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil due to long-term injuries.

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Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez, right, celebrates his solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in New York. All the players are wearing 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. hits an RBI double during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in New York. All the players are wearing 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees players wearing 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day take the field before a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in New York. All the players are wearing 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe catches a fly ball hit by New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in New York. All the players are wearing 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Kansas City Royals pitcher Angel Zerpa reacts after walking New York Yankees' Austin Wells to score a run during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in New York. All the players are wearing 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Kansas City Royals pitcher Michael Wacha throws during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in New York. All the players are wearing 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in New York. All the players are wearing 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Jasson Domínguez helmet falls off as he hits a three-run double during the sixth inning of a baseball game Kansas City Royals Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in New York. All the players are wearing 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Jasson Domínguez reacts after hitting a three-run double during the sixth inning of a baseball game Kansas City Royals Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in New York. All the players are wearing 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

DENVER (AP) — Kawhi Leonard scored 39 points on 15-of-19 shooting and the Los Angeles Clippers evened their first-round playoff series against the Nuggets with a 105-102 win in Denver on Monday night.

Christian Braun was long on a 3-pointer with 6 seconds left, and Nikola Jokic, who recorded his 19th career playoff triple-double, grabbed the rebound but also missed a 3, with 1 second remaining.

The Clippers, who lost Game 1 in overtime, haven’t lost back-to-back games since March 2-4, a stretch of 23 games, and they handed David Adelman his first loss in five games since replacing Michael Malone in a stunning move on the eve of the playoffs.

Jokic, just the third player to average a triple-double over a season, had 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists and Jamal Murray added 23 points for the Nuggets, who also got a bounce-back game from Michael Porter Jr. (15 points and 15 rebounds) after his 3-point performance in Game 1.

It wasn't enough against Leonard, who had 21 points at the break, including a pull-up 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer that broke a 52-all tie.

Leonard also had a key steal of a Jokic pass with 37 seconds remaining in the game, but Harden missed at the other end and Braun grabbed the defensive rebound with 11 seconds left.

The Nuggets committed 20 turnovers — the same number the Clippers had in Game 1 — and missed eight free throws. “That was a killer,” Adelman said.

Jokic had an uncharacteristic seven turnovers and missed 4 of 10 free throws.

Things got chippy in the third quarter when Norman Powell got away with a push and Murray grabbed hold of him. Official Tyler Ford quickly stepped between the two, but Powell and teammate Kris Dunn were whistled for technicals, as was Braun. Because two of the technicals were on the Clippers, the Nuggets got a free throw and Murray sank the shot to pull Denver to 68-67.

The Clippers rolled into the playoffs as the league’s hottest team, winning their last eight games and 18 of their final 21 before losing Game 1 Saturday night 112-110.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue spoke before tip-off about the need to pick up the pace for Game 2, but the Nuggets outscored L.A. 14-3 in fastbreak points in the first quarter, just two points shy of their season average. Yet, they didn't get anymore fastbreak points the rest of the game and L.A. finished with 18 points on the break.

The series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 Thursday night.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, top right, looks to pass the ball to guard James Harden, bottom right, as Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., left, defends in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, center front, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32), forward Michael Porter Jr., center back, and center Nikola Jokic, right, defend in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, top, drives to the basket as Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, bottom, defends in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, right, looks to pass the ball as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, and forward Michael Porter Jr., center, defend in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, drives past Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, left, in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff series Monday, April 21, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)