Final
Royals try to punch World Series ticket and sweep O's
Oct 15, 2014 - 2:31 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Kansas City Royals try to punch their ticket to the World Series for the first time since 1985 on Wednesday, as they attempt to complete a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship Series.Kansas City has won all seven of its playoff games this October and is now one victory away from appearing in the Fall Classic for the first time since beating the St. Louis Cardinals 29 years ago.
Should it close out the series on Wednesday, KC will become the first team to open a single postseason with eight straight wins. Dating back to that wonderful 1985 season, the Royals have now won 10 straight playoff games.
Those 10 straight wins are tied for third all-time with the San Francisco Giants (2012, '14), Oakland Athletics (1989-90) and the New York Yankees (1937-39, '41). The Yankees own the top postseason win streak with 12, having accomplished it twice (1927-28, '32 and 1998-99).
Kansas City has gotten as far as it has thanks to some timely hitting and outstanding relief pitching. It was more of the same on Tuesday, as Billy Butler's sixth inning sacrifice fly scored Jarrod Dyson and the Royals held on for a 2-1 win.
Four Kansas City relievers combined for four perfect innings in the win, as Jason Frasor (2-0) worked a perfect top of the sixth in relief of Jeremy Guthrie before the three-headed monster of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland protected the one-run lead and gave the Royals a 3-0 advantage in this best-of-seven set.
"To be in this position right here, it's tremendous, because there's times you feel like you don't know if (success) going to happen," Butler said. "(General manager) Dayton (Moore) has done a great job of drafting tremendous players, and the city's been reaping the benefits of that and so are we."
Lorenzo Cain followed up a four-hit performance in Saturday's Game 2 by going 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Eric Hosmer also had two hits for the Royals.
Cain is 8-for-12 (.667) with five runs scored, two doubles, an RBI and two walks in the ALCS. Cain sits one hit shy of Willie Wilson's 1985 franchise record for hits in a single ALCS.
"I told the guys to get ready to go, make sure your head is on right, get locked in and try to win another ballgame," Cain said.
The Orioles managed just three hits as a team, with J.J. Hardy knocking in their lone run with a second-inning double.
"(The Royals) have been getting that big hit, that big timely hit that we haven't been able to get," said Orioles first baseman Steve Pearce.
Of course, there has only been one team to rally from three games down to win a best-of-seven series and that was the 2004 Boston Red Sox, who stunned the Yankees.
"You never know what can happen when you're playing with house money," Baltimore's Adam Jones said. "We're both franchises who weren't supposed to be here, but we're here and we're grinding it out."
Hoping to close it out for the Royals this afternoon will be lefty Jason Vargas, who hasn't pitched since starting Game 1 of the ALDS against the Los Angeles Angels back on Oct. 2. Vargas overcame a rough September and pitched well in that one, allowing just two runs in six innings.
"I've never had this much rest, so I couldn't give you a good guideline on what I'll be looking for," Vargas said. "But I'll be ready to go and be ready to try to execute my game plan and execute pitches."
Baltimore, meanwhile, will have an equally rested hurler in right-hander Miguel Gonzalez, who will get the call for the first time since Sept. 28. Gonzalez was 10-9 this year with a 3.23 ERA this season for the Orioles.
"I'm excited. I'm excited to go out there and give my team a chance to win a ballgame," Gonzalez said.
The Royals won four of seven from the Orioles during the regular season, outscoring Baltimore 26-18.
If necessary, Game 5 will be played on Thursday in Kansas City.
- BALTIMORE: 1
KANSAS CITY: 2
Final
Oct 15 7:05 PM - Ryan Flaherty lead-off Home Run (1) to right. Jonathan Schoop due up.
Orioles 1, Royals 2 Top 3, 0 OutsOct 15 4:48 PM - Eric Hosmer grounded into a fielder's choice scored Alcides Escobar and Norichika Aoki with one out. On the play, Eric Hosmer advances on on Caleb Joseph's missed catch error. Runner on second with one out and Billy Butler due up.
Orioles 0, Royals 2 Bot 1, 1 OutOct 15 4:23 PM - Eric Hosmer reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield, advances to 2nd. Norichika Aoki scores. Alcides Escobar scores. Fielding error by Caleb Joseph.
Orioles 0, Royals 2 Bot 1, 1 OutOct 15 4:21 PM - Nick Markakis grounds out to second base, Omar Infante to Eric Hosmer.
Oct 15 4:09 PM - BALTIMORE: 0
KANSAS CITY: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Oct 15 4:09 PM
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