ALCS Game 4: Royals sweep Orioles, clinch first World Series berth since 1985
The unstoppable postseason force known as the Kansas City Royals are headed to the World Series for the first time since 1985 after defeating and sweeping the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.
Omar Infante started the game with a beautiful backhand play up-the-middle and strong off-balance throw to take away a hit from Nick Markakis, and the Royals were immediately off and running. In the bottom half, Kansas City plated two on an infield single, a hit-by-pitch, and an error by Orioles’ catcher Caleb Joseph on what could have been a rally-killing fielder’s choice by Eric Hosmer. Royals ball at its finest, as the defense set the tone and the offense took what was given and maximized a scoring opportunity.
With another good enough starting effort from Jason Vargas and another lock down performance from the core of its bullpen, Kansas City turned that first inning into its record-breaking eighth straight victory to begin a postseason, and clinch a long-awaited World Series berth.
• Alcides Escobar set the table for Kansas City, reaching on an infield single leading off the first inning and later scoring the first run. He added another single in the fifth, which nearly keyed another Royals’ rally. Defensively, he started two 6-3 double plays behind Jason Vargas.
• ALCS MVP Lorenzo Cain earned his trophy in part because of his defense, which has been relentlessly good all thoughout the postseason, but left fielder Alex Gordon is the guy who’s likely to receive his fourth Gold Glove award next month. He continued his stellar outfield play with a pair of nice catches, including an all-out grab that sent him crashing shoulder first into the outfield fence.
He bounced up no worse for the wear, and an appreciative Jason Vargas saluted him for his effort.
• All Ned Yost is asking from his starters right now is to get him through five innings so he can set up his bullpen. Anything beyond that is a bonus, so Jason Vargas’ 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball would definitely be considered a success. He allowed just two hits, walked three and struck out six on 64 pitches.
• The bullpen took it from there, recording the final 11 outs. Kelvin Herrera went 1 2/3 innings, allowing just a bloop single to Adam Jones. Wade Davis followed with a scoreless eighth. And then Greg Holland notched his fourth save of this series. After allowing two runs in Game 1, Kansas City’s bullpen rebounded with 11 2/3 scoreless.
• Ryan Flaherty got Baltimore on the board with a third-inning home run left-on-left against Jason Vargas.
• Hat tip to Orioles’ lefty reliever Andrew Miller, who pitched a perfect seventh inning. He finished the postseason with 6 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing only one hit.
• One misplay is all the Royals need to grab an advantage. In the first inning, Caleb Joseph’s inability to hang on to Steve Pearce’s throw not only cost Baltimore an out, but two runs. Two runs that held up for eight more innings and served as the difference. That’s how close Baltimore was to possibly turning the series around, but it wasn’t meant to be.
• Delmon Young got the start over Alejandro De Aza against the left-handed starting pitcher, but finished 0 for 4. He grounded into a pair of double plays and struck out once.
Eric Hosmer’s first-inning bouncer really seemed innocent, but there’s no doubt it was the game-changing moment. When first baseman Steve Pearce fired home to Caleb Joseph, it looks like Kansas City’s first scoring opportunity would be for naught. When Alcides Escobar’s slide kicked the ball out of Joseph’s mitt, everything changed because the Royals had their lead.
That’s what speed do.
• The Royals are going to the World Series. That, in and of itself, is one of the biggest stories baseball could produce.
• The waiting game begins for the Royals. Will a five-day layoff hurt them, help them, or not matter one bit? Let the debate begin.
• A rough end to an otherwise great season for Baltimore. Now the question becomes what will it take to repeat in the tough AL East. The Yankees and Red Sox will reload. The Rays will continue being the Rays. Was this their shot, or was it only the beginning of a run?
Game 1 of the World Series isn’t scheduled to take place until Tuesday, regardless of the finish in the NLCS, which the Giants currently lead two games to one. It won’t be a welcomed layoff given how well they’re playing, but they’ll have another wild Kauffman Stadium crowd awaiting them in Game 1.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
