Alex Verdugo hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning and saved at least one run with a sliding catch along the left-field line, boosting the New York Yankees over the Kansas City Royals 6-5 in their AL Division Series opener.

In the end, it was Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo, an unlikely hero, who drove in the winning run as the Yankees topped the Royals 6-5, sending the 48,790 sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium home happy.

Heroes, zeros and the full inside pitch from the Yankees’ 6-5 win over the Royals in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday.