OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 25: Isiah Kiner-Falefa #12 of the New York Yankees prepares in the dugout before the game against the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum on August 25, 2022 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The New York Yankees enjoyed a surge at the plate on Tuesday, posting 15 runs in a blowout over the Kansas City Royals.
And perhaps the most rewarding part of the victory was the fact that the momentum was spread out across the roster in historic fashion.
“Attacking early and often while racking up a season-high 24 hits — 21 before facing a position player pitching in the ninth — the Yankees cruised to their third straight win, 15-1 over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium,” Greg Joyce wrote for the New York Post. “For the first time in franchise history, every member of the starting lineup had at least two hits.”
But while the Yankees enjoyed an offensive breakout, their old friend voiced some frustration as his new team struggles.
Former New York Yankees Infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa Voices Career Concerns With Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who was a polarizing presence for the Yankees in 2022 and 2023, has been unable to earn consistent playing time as the team struggles. In 54 at-bats for the Red Sox so far he is slashing .278/.350/.370, but he noted that he feels every plate appearance is high pressure because of how sparingly he gets to play.
“I’m fighting for my career, I’m fighting for my life, I’m scrapping for every at bat I can get,” Kiner-Falefa said on Tuesday, according to Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald. “Understanding I’m getting older and my playing time has been cut, I’m not even playing at all, so I’m in there fighting for my life, fighting for my career…”
New York Yankees Former Infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa Responds To Boston Red Sox’s Playoff Hopes
The former Yankee might be especially frustrated with his lack of opportunities for the Red Sox given their overall struggles. The team parted ways with long-time manager Alex Cora a month ago, but things haven’t improved in the standings, and the team sits in last place in the American League East division.
Kiner-Falefa referenced the larger team struggles immediately after he underscored the pressure he is feeling to salvage his career in limited at-bats.
“We’re lucky to be in the American League, we just got to keep going,” Kiner-Falefa added, noting the parity that keeps the Red Sox’s playoff hopes somewhat alive. “We’ve got to keep going and hopefully we string some together and other teams lose, we’re honestly just lucky to be in the American League.”