K.C. continues to put together amasterpiece
ROYALS 6, ORIOLES 4
baltimore » The Kansas City Royals prefer to simply savor their exceptional performance at Camden Yards rather than ponder the historical ramifications of where it has gotten them.
Alcides Escobar doubled in the goahead run in the ninth inning, Mike Moustakas extended his home run binge and Kansas City remained perfect in the playoffs, beating the BaltimoreOrioles 6-4 on Saturday for a 2-0 lead in the AL Championship Series.
Now, the Royals head back to Kansas City, Mo., with the knowledge that no team has ever lost a best-ofseven LCS after winning the first two games on the road.
“We don’twant to be the first team to do that,” designated hitter Billy Butler said. “That’s all I get from that.”
Lorenzo Cain had four hits, scored twice and drove in a run for the wildcard Royals, who are 6-0 in the playoffs this year, including 4-0 on the road. The Orioles hadn’t lost two in a row in Baltimore since June 28-29, but Kansas City found a way to quiet the towel-waving, screaming crowds.
“The atmosphere here is great. It didn’t affect us,” Butler said. “Now we’ll go home and see if they can play in our atmosphere.”
Moustakas homered for the fourth time in five games as the Royals won their ninth straight in the postseason, a string dating to the 1985World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
“To come in here and win two games against a great team like that, it’s huge for us,” Moustakas said. “A lot of confidence going back home.”
The Orioles and manager Buck Showalter’s teamnowmust buck history to get Baltimore its first pennant since 1983.
“The series ain’t over,” insisted Adam Jones, who hit his first playoff home run. “If you guys (are) thinking it’s over, why arewe going to showup onMonday?”
After squeezing out an 8-6 win in 10 innings on Friday night, theRoyals again took apart the Baltimore bullpen with a late uprising.
With the score tied at 4 in the ninth, Omar Infante beat out an infield roller offDarren O’Day, the losing pitcher for the second straight day.
Zach Britton entered, andMoustakas laid down a bunt that moved pinch-runner Terrance Gore to second. Escobar then sliced an oppositefield grounder inside first base to bring home Gore.
Cain added an RBI single to become the only Royals player other than Hall of Famer George Brett to have a four-hit game in the postseason.