Royals clinch
Kansas City’s Ben Zobrist (18) slides home in the sixth inning to score one of the Royals’ 10 runs in their 10-4 victory over Seattle on Thursday. Zobrist scored three times for the Royals, who clinched the American League Central Division with the victory coupled with Minnesota’s 6-3 loss to Cleveland. The last time Kansas City won a division title was in 1985.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — No unexpected wild-card ride into October this year.
The Kansas City Royals are division champs for the first time in three decades, and they want a whole lot more.
Johnny Cueto earned his first victory in nearly six weeks and the Royals clinched the American League Central crown Thursday night with a 10-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
“I’ve felt all along we would win this division. I’ve got my eyes on a much bigger prize,” Manager Ned Yost said. “This is the first step of it.”
The defending AL champions, who made a remarkable run through the postseason as a surprise wild card last year, came charging out of the dugout following the final out.
Back in the clubhouse, they sprayed champagne during a happy celebration that included Royals Hall of Famer George Brett and owner David Glass. Moments later, players returned to the field at the urging of outfielder Jarrod Dyson to salute about 5,000 fans who were still in the stadium.
Dyson climbed on top of the Royals’ dugout and shook hands with several of them.
It is Kansas City’s first division title since 1985, when Brett led the Royals to AL West crown en route to their only World Series championship.
“It’s a huge accomplishment,” said Ben Zobrist, who had two doubles and scored three runs. “It hasn’t been done here for a long time. There’s a lot of guys in this clubhouse I’ve