Royals lose no-hit bid (and nearly the game) before walk-off win over the Yankees

The Royals pulled their latest rabbit out of a hat with a rally that began on a ball hit all of 59.9 mph.

Trailing the Yankees by a run in the ninth inning on Thursday, pinch-hitter Drew Waters doinked a slow roller up the first-base line. Yankees closer Clay Holmes ran toward the ball but hesitated and went to cover the bag. That allowed Waters to reach first after a head-first slide.

It wasn’t pretty, but it was the start to a ninth-inning comeback as the Royals walked off the Yankees 4-3 in front of 21,875 delirious fans at Kauffman Stadium..

“I couldn’t be more proud of those guys,” said Royals manager Matt Quatraro, who was ejected in the sixth inning. “I mean, you’re down, that’s a really good team with an elite closer coming in. We’ve talked so much about it, but I never get tired of bragging about them. The way they go about it, the way they hustle, the way they never quit — it’s inspiring to me to come to work every day to be around these guys.”

The Royals, 40-30, avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees, who have an MLB-best 49 wins.

Waters had a reminder of his hustle thanks to a left forearm that was scratched and bruised after he made a headfirst slide into the bag.

“I was trying to compete, put something in play and obviously part of my game is speed,” Waters said. “So I knew if I just put it in play, I would have a shot at getting on and it ended up working out.

“I’ll take the hit for the scraped-up arm.”

Waters was forced at second when when MJ Melendez grounded to second. But Kyle Isbel followed with a single and Maikel Garcia scorched a double down the left-field line that went 105 mph off the bat.

Melendez and Isbel scored and the Royals ended a four-game losing streak.

“Just be ready for the moment and don’t give up,” Garcia said of his mentality at the plate. “The game doesn’t end (until) the 27th out.”

Marvelous Alec Marsh

In their previous six games heading into Thursday, the Royals trailed when they came to bat for the first time.

Royals right-hander Alec Marsh emphatically ended that dubious streak by throwing six hitless innings. That no-hit bid ended with a Juan Soto single to open the seventh inning.

Marsh was terrific as he allowed just the one hit in seven innings and struck out seven. That included three punchouts of red-hot Yankees hitter Aaron Judge.

The Royals had given up 21 runs in the previous two games and Marsh was determined to get the pitching back on track.

“Just watching what they did to us the last couple days, I was kind of like just sick and tired of it,” Marsh said. “I don’t care who were playing, who they are. Today I just wanted to go out there and just lay everything on the line and give it my all, and I’m just really happy we came back there in the end and got the W.

“That’s huge that we came back there and prevented the sweep. I think we’re gonna get them next time we see them, 100%.”

Marsh left with the Royals leading 2-0, but he didn’t get the victory after the bullpen gave up three runs in the eighth inning. That just set the stage for more late-inning heroics for the Royals. It was their 17th comeback win this season.

“I was just pumped we got that W today,” Marsh said. “Let’s take it to LA.”

Next up for the Royals are the Dodgers, who lead the NL West.

“Certainly it’s a big win,” Quatraro said. “I mean, it’s better than the alternative, right? And it’ll be a much happier flight. Much more confidence going into tomorrow, probably.”

Missed previous games of the series?

Game 1: Seth Lugo hit with barrage of singles as Royals fall 4-2 to Yankees

Game 2: Yankees overpower Royals in 10-1 victory at Kauffman Stadium

Game 3: Yankees ride big first inning to 11-5 victory

Here are more notable aspects from Thursday’s game:

Vinnie Pasquantino delivers

The Royals opened the scoring in the fourth inning as Maikel Garcia walked and took second on a single by Bobby Witt Jr.

Vinnie Pasquantino followed with a double that scored both runners.

Pasquantino now has 46 RBIs on the season. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs.

Witt, meanwhile, was 2-for-3 with a walk, extending his hitting streak to 14 games. He’s batting .330 this season.

Injury report: Michael Wacha

Right-hander Michael Wacha, who is on the injured list because of a fracture in his left foot, threw three innings in a simulated game on Thursday. Manager Matt Quatraro said Wacha could make a rehab start soon.

What’s next: The Royals head to the West Coast, where they open up a three-game series Friday against the NL West-leading Dodgers. Left-hander Cole Ragans will start for the Royals against Gavin Stone. First pitch is at 9:10 p.m., and the game will air on Bally Sports KC and MLB-TV.