Royals one win away from return Series trip
Kansas City knocks out Dickey in the second inning and never lets up to take a 3-1 series lead.
Kansas City scores four runs in the first inning off R.A. Dickey and blows the game open with four more in the seventh, finishing with 15 hits.
KANSAS CITY 14 TORONTO 2
TORONTO — Whether it’s a long ball by Ben Zobrist, a slashing single from Lorenzo Cain or another exhilarating trip around the bases for Alcides Escobar, these Kansas City Royals are relentless — and one win from a return trip to the World Series.
Zobrist hit a two-run homer on knuckleballer R.A. Dickey’s fourth pitch of the game, Alex Rios connected an inning later against his former team and the Royals romped past the Toronto Blue Jays, 14-2, Tuesday for a 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series.
“We’re very confident,” Rios said. “We have a very well-balanced team from top to bottom.”
Cain scored on a passed ball and Mike Moustakas had a sacrifice fly in an LCS-record four-run top of the first inning
Escobar had four runs batted in and Cain drove in three runs as the Royals bounced back from an 11-8 loss Monday. Kansas City had a 5-2 lead in the seventh before breaking away.
Blue Jays infielder Cliff Pennington relieved in the ninth inning, becoming the first primarily position player to pitch in the postseason, STATS said. Greeted by cheers, he gave up two hits and got one out.
“The circumstances aren’t what you want,” Pennington of his first pitching appearance.
Kansas City can win the pennant Wednesday, when Edinson Volquez starts against Toronto’s Marco Estrada in a Game 1 rematch.
“It’s a do-or-die game for us,” Toronto Manager John Gibbons said. “But they do it all year. I think these guys will let this one go and they’ll show up to play tomorrow. … I know these guys will be ready.”
After flashing power to build a 5-0 lead on the long ball, the Royals returned to their pesky ways late in the game against the Blue Jays’ struggling bullpen. They scored nine runs with three more sacrifice flies, a barrage of slashing hits and heads-up baserunning.
“We’re a good offensive team,” first baseman Eric Hosmer said. “Our park, our style of play is a little different. We like to use our legs and be athletic, but when we come to some of these parks where the fences aren’t as deep we’ve got some guys that can put the ball in the seats.”
Blue Jays fans had seen enough after Cain’s two-run single in the eighth, turning their ever-optimistic cheers to jeers when Mark Lowe replaced Ryan Tepera.
Chris Young, 36, bested Dickey, 40, in a matchup of veteran starters — only the pairing of the Yankees’ Randy Johnson and Detroit’s Kenny Rogers in the 2006 ALDS tops the duo for combined age.
But just like his counterpart’s effort in Game 4 of the division series against Texas, the 6-foot-10 Young was lifted one out shy of qualifying for a victory when Ned Yost went to his bullpen with a runner on first with two outs in the fifth. Yost wasn’t willing to take any chances against Josh Donaldson, who already had an RBI double.
“It’s not about personal stuff,” Young said. “It’s just feels great to contribute to such a great team win.”
Dickey never had a chance to get that first playoff victory in a 13year big league career.
Escobar got a hit leading off for the fourth straight game, starting this one with a bunt down the third base line. Zobrist connected for his first homer of the ALCS.
Rios homered in the second for a 5-0 lead. Booed all series by his old fans, he didn’t get any extra satisfaction out of the hit.
“It’s just another team we have to go out and beat,” Rios said.
After Dickey hit Escobar with a pitch — a call that needed replay review to get it right — he walked Cain one out later and was done after 12⁄3 innings.