Royals' Cueto fires rare CG in WS Game 2 win

Johnny Cueto threw a complete game in Game 2. (USATSI)

KANSAS CITY, Mo — In Game 1 of the World Series, the Royals had to empty much of their bullpen and went into Game 2 hoping to avoid having to overwork their talented relief corps. Thanks to Johnny Cueto, that mission was accomplished. No one else was needed on Tuesday night.

The right-hander went out and threw the first complete game the Royals have seen in the postseason since Bret Saberhagan and Danny Jackson did it twice each in 1985. In fact, this was the last AL complete game in a World Series game since the famed Jack Morris job in 1991 Game 7, when he went 10 innings.

Games like these are precisely why the Royals acquired Cueto on a rental with little hope of retaining his services via free agency this coming offseason. It was all about pushing the chips to the center of the table and win a World Series this season. Flags fly forever and it looked like it was time for general manager Dayton Moore to strike while the iron was hot.

Thanks to a 7-1 win in Game 2, the Royals only need to win two of the next five games to get that job done.

While the offense had some fireworks in two different innings on Wednesday, this game was mostly about Cueto going out and pitching like the ace the Royals were acquiring in late July.

The final line: 2+ IP, 6 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, 2 K

Oh wait, that’s not it. That was what Cueto did in his only start last round. He was shelled in Toronto. No matter, Royals manager Ned Yost stuck to his guns and kept Cueto in the rotation, tabbing him for a home start (he’s fared much better at home of late).

The actual line in Game 2 of the World Series: 9 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

That’s the best line of any Royals start this postseason and it doesn’t even do Cueto’s work justice. The only two hits were singles and neither was hit hard. He pitched to contact instead of missing bats for the most part, but he induced weak contact and let the Royals’ exceptional defense behind him do the work. That’s a recipe for success.

Maybe we can resurrect the “ace” talk when it comes to Cueto.

Regardless of what you want to call him, Cueto came through in a big way for the Royals in Game 2, getting them within two wins of their 2015 goal.

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