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 The Royals extended their perfect postseason run with a 2-1
victory over the Baltimore Orioles in Game Four of the best-of-seven
American League Championship Series.
"It's been an amazing run," left fielder Alex Gordon said on the
field moments after closer Greg Holland got J.J. Hardy to ground out
to third base for the final out.
"Today (was the) same old story, good pitching, good defense and
scratch out a win. Good teams find ways to win and that’s what we
did."
Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain was named the Most Valuable Player of
the ALCS after batting .533 and playing some stunning defense.
Kansas City will next play the winner of the National League
Championship Series between the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis
Cardinals.
Two first-inning runs was all Kansas City needed as starting pitcher
Jason Vargas struck out six Orioles batters and allowed one run on
two hits in 5-1/3 innings before handing it over to the Royals'
vaunted bullpen.
"We know once we have the lead we've got the best pitching staff and
best bullpen around," said Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer, quickly
reminding everyone that the season was not over. "We’re not done
yet."
Before the 2014 Major League Baseball season, Kansas City had not
returned to the playoffs since winning the World Series 29 years
ago, the longest streak without appearing in the postseason in the
four major North American sports.
And they did not even win their division this season, being forced
to run the gauntlet of a one-off wild-card elimination game against
the Oakland Athletics to reach the American League Division Series.
After erasing a four-run deficit en route to sealing a thrilling win
over Oakland in extra innings, the Royals swept the top-seeded Los
Angeles Angels in a best-of-five series before knocking off the
American League East champion Orioles.
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Not that the Orioles went quietly. All four games were decided by
two runs or less, as the Royals won by a total of only six runs.
"You saw how close the games were. It’s more a testament to what
they did. They played great defensively and I congratulate them,"
said Baltimore manager Buck Schowalter. "There are going to be 29
disappointed teams when the season’s over."
Kansas City’s runs in the first came on a fielder's choice by Eric
Hosmer. Alcides Escobar slid home and forced an error on catcher
Caleb Joseph. Nori Aoki also scored on the play, while Hosmer
reached second.
Baltimore’s only run came in the third inning when Ryan Flaherty
homered to right.
Vargas got the win, while Miguel Gonzales took the loss, despite
only giving up four hits and two runs in 5-2/3 innings.
(Reporting By Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Frank
Pingue)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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