ALDS Game 4: Royals late comeback against Astros forces Game 5
The reigning American League champion Kansas City Royals will not go down without a fight. After falling behind by four runs, Kansas City completed an improbable comeback, beating the Houston Astros 9-6.
Things looked promising for Kansas City early, as Salvador Perez’s early home run gave the club a two-run lead. Houston starter Lance McCullers settled in after that, eventually throwing 6 1/3 strong innings.
Carlos Correa was the big story for Houston throughout most of the contest. His solo home run in the third inning tied things up 2-2. In the fifth, Correa gave the Astros a 3-2 lead with a huge RBI double. Then, in the seventh, he went yard again. This time, it was a two-run shot, which put Houston ahead 5-2.
Colby Rasmus also struck again, smashing a solo home in the seventh, which pushed the score to 6-2.
In the end, their contributions weren’t enough.
The Royals refused to go down quietly. Kansas City had a monstrous eighth inning. The team loaded the bases on three straight singles to open the frame. Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer each drove in a run with their own singles, cutting the deficit to 6-4.
With the bases still loaded, Kendrys Morales hit a ball up the middle that deflected off pitcher Tony Sipp. It looked like the ball would turn into a double-play, but it took a weird bounce and hit the top of Correa’s glove. The play, which was ruled an error, allowed two runs to score, tying the game up 6-6.
With one out in the inning, Alex Gordon hit an RBI ground out to Jose Altuve. Altuve’s dive may have prevented more runs from scoring, but the ball was hit in a place where Altuve had no chance at a double-play. The play gave the Royals a 7-6 lead.
They weren’t done. Eric Hosmer would add a two-run homer in the ninth inning, providing the team with some much needed insurance runs.
Wade Davis was called upon for a six-out save, and was able to get the job done despite a ninth-inning single by Correa.
• Eric Hosmer managed some big at-bats late in the contest. He worked a nice at-bat against Tony Sipp in the eighth, driving in a run on an RBI single. He wound up scoring the go-ahead run during the inning as well. In the ninth, Hosmer struck again. He drove a two-run homer out to center field, giving Kansas City the 9-6 lead.
• It’s tough to pick another Royals player here. This was a true team victory, and nearly every guy on the club contributed in the eighth inning. Six other Royals starters added one hit during the contest. That doesn’t include Morales or Alex Gordon, both of who were involved in two of the game’s biggest plays.
• Carlos Correa may be a rookie, but the bright lights didn’t seem to bother him. Correa had a breakout performance on the biggest possible stage. Correa finished 4-for-4, with three runs scored and 4 RBIs. If Correa develops into the star everyone expects, this will be one of the games they talk about. A late eighth-inning error shouldn’t overshadow his otherwise excellent game.
• Will Harris had a rough go of it in the eighth inning. The right-hander opened the frame by giving up three straight singles to load the bases. Lorenzo Cain then delivered an RBI single, ending Harris’ day. Tony Sipp came on in relief and struggled as well, allowing three runs. All of those were charged to Harris, though. In two-thirds of an inning, Harris was charged with four earned runs.
• The entire Astros bullpen deserves recognition here. Tony Sipp was charged with just one earned run, but he contributed greatly to the club’s eighth-inning meltdown. Josh Fields also needs to be mentioned after giving up a two-run homer to Hosmer in the ninth.
The entire top of the eighth inning stands out for Kansas City. With the team down by four, the Royals mounted a five-run comeback. The biggest play was likely Kendrys Morales grounder up the middle. The ball took a strange hop and hit off Carlos Correa’s glove for an error. Two runs scored on the play, tying things up.
Despite the loss, Carlos Correa deserves a ton of credit. Correa’s fifth inning double stands out. With George Springer on first, Correa managed to work a full count against Yordano Ventura. On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, he lined a 96 mph fastball to right field. Springer was running hard all the way, and easily scored. The hit gave the Astros the 3-2 lead.
This will surprise no one, but that Carlos Correa guy is really great.
Terrance Gore was caught stealing on a controversial call in the seventh inning. He was initially ruled safe, but after review it was determined he briefly came off the base.
The Royals’ refusal to die. The eighth inning come back was the biggest moment of the game, and the Royals season to this point. The Royals contact-heavy approach was huge. The club led off the frame with five straight singles, cutting the lead to 6-4. The Kendrys Morales ground ball to Correa that tied the game was key, and then Alex Gordon drove in the go-ahead run on a ground out. It was an amazing inning for the reigning AL champs.
Oh, and the Eric Hosmer ninth inning home run was a pretty big moment.
They also better be talking about Correa. The 21-year-old former first overall pick was a clear star of the contest despite the results. It was a true breakout game on a national stage for an incredibly young superstar.
The Kansas City Royals have forced Game 5. That game will take place October 14 in Kansas City. The game will air on FS1, but no time has been announced yet. Both starters are currently listed as TBD. Johnny Cueto could go for Kansas City, while Collin McHugh is a possibility for Houston.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
