KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Yankees’ killing shot at the Royals came Thursday night at 9:44 a.m. Central Time. In a Midwestern town known for jazz, barbecue and Chiefs football, Luke Weaver threw a fastball on the first pitch into the outside corner, where Yuri Gurriel skied to center for a can of corn.

Aaron Judge took about ten short steps to the right, raised his glove and squeezed.