The Playoff Race: ‘Big Game’ James Shields Frustrates Yankees
By John Viril
Sep 5, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees left fielder
Brett Gardner(11) reacts in front of Kansas City Royals catcher
Salvador Perez(13) after striking out during the ninth inning of a game at Yankee Stadium. The Royals defeated the Yankees 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY
James Shields lived up to his nickname Friday night, frustrating the Yankees with a 3-hit shut in the Kansas City Royals‘ 1-0 victory in New York.
The Royals put all of their strengths on display to defeat the Yankees. The Royals got: 1) outstanding starting pitching, 2) hustle on the basepaths in Alcides Escobar taking 2nd on Chase Headley’s error, which allowed Escobar to score the game’s only run on Nori Aoki‘s single, 3) outstanding outfield defense when Lorenzo Cain reached over the wall to rob Brett Gardner of a home run in the 6th, and 4) stifling relief when Wade Davis struck out the final two Yankees to finish the game.
The result was a narrow 1-0 victory which the Royals won on an unearned run.
Ouch. That one has to smart for the Yankees, whose playoff hopes are on life-support.
The Royals have now won 4 straight games, rebounding from an awful series against Cleveland that put the Royals in a virtual tie for 1st place with the Tigers and pulled the Indians, momentarily, back in the race.
A.L. CENTRAL
| Rk | Tm | W | L | W-L% | GB | Strk | Home | Road | ExInn | 1Run | ≥.500 | <.500 | last10 | last20 | last30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KCR | 78 | 61 | .561 | — | W 4 | 38-33 | 40-29 | 5-7 | 21-22 | 39-39 | 39-23 | 6-4 | 12-8 | 21-9 |
| 2 | DET | 77 | 64 | .546 | 2.0 | L 1 | 35-31 | 42-33 | 6-6 | 20-18 | 41-36 | 36-28 | 6-4 | 11-9 | 15-15 |
| 3 | CLE | 72 | 67 | .518 | 6.0 | W 1 | 41-28 | 32-39 | 12-7 | 22-18 | 35-41 | 38-26 | 6-4 | 13-7 | 18-12 |
| 4 | CHW | 63 | 77 | .450 | 15.5 | L 2 | 34-36 | 29-41 | 5-8 | 22-22 | 39-49 | 24-28 | 4-6 | 6-14 | 9-21 |
| 5 | MIN | 61 | 80 | .433 | 18.0 | L 2 | 30-40 | 31-40 | 5-7 | 17-23 | 38-55 | 23-25 | 3-7 | 6-14 | 10-20 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.
Kansas City opened a 2-game lead on the Tigers Friday night after Detroit lost 8-2 at home to San Francisco, following a long rain delay.
The Giants beat up on Tiger starter Rick Porcello, scoring 6 runs on 10 hits in only 3 innings. Porcello took the loss (15-10) after a long rain delay gave Tigers’ fans hope that an early 6-0 deficit might get wiped out.
The Indians reversed their slide with with a 10-inning 2-1 win over the White Sox in Cleveland. Yan Gomes led off the 10th with a triple, and pinch hitter David Murphy delivered an RBI single for the walkoff win.
Cleveland remains 6 games behind the Royals in the Central.
A.L. WILD CARD
| Rk | Tm | W | L | W-L% | GB | Strk | Home | Road | ExInn | 1Run | ≥.500 | <.500 | last10 | last20 | last30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | OAK | 79 | 61 | .564 | — | L 3 | 44-26 | 35-35 | 11-7 | 19-21 | 41-40 | 38-21 | 2-8 | 6-14 | 12-18 |
| 4 | KCR | 78 | 61 | .561 | — | W 4 | 38-33 | 40-29 | 5-7 | 21-22 | 39-39 | 39-23 | 6-4 | 12-8 | 21-9 |
| 5 | SEA | 77 | 63 | .550 | — | W 4 | 36-36 | 41-27 | 3-6 | 16-23 | 42-28 | 35-35 | 6-4 | 12-8 | 20-10 |
| 6 | DET | 77 | 64 | .546 | 0.5 | L 1 | 35-31 | 42-33 | 6-6 | 20-18 | 41-36 | 36-28 | 6-4 | 11-9 | 15-15 |
| 7 | NYY | 72 | 67 | .518 | 4.5 | L 1 | 35-33 | 37-34 | 7-6 | 22-19 | 34-38 | 38-29 | 4-6 | 11-9 | 16-14 |
| 8 | CLE | 72 | 67 | .518 | 4.5 | W 1 | 41-28 | 32-39 | 12-7 | 22-18 | 35-41 | 38-26 | 6-4 | 13-7 | 18-12 |
| 9 | TOR | 72 | 68 | .514 | 5.0 | L 1 | 37-31 | 35-37 | 5-7 | 14-15 | 35-39 | 37-29 | 6-4 | 9-11 | 12-18 |
| 10 | TBR | 68 | 74 | .479 | 10.0 | W 1 | 32-41 | 36-33 | 7-9 | 20-19 | 40-52 | 28-22 | 4-6 | 7-13 | 14-16 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.
Oakland is clinging to the A.L.’s top wild card spot by 2 games over Seattle. The A’s lost their 3rd straight game after they suffered a painful 4-3 loss to the Astros in Oakland. Houston DH Chris Carter struck the decisive blow with a 2-run shot (36) off Jeff Samardzija in the 6th inning to wipe out a 3-2 Oakland lead.
Oakland holds a mere 1/2 game advantage over the Royals in the wild card standings.
Seattle has matched the Royals with a 4-game winning streak, and have now overhauled Detroit to take over the 2nd wild card position. Last night, the Mariners handled Texas 7-5 in Seattle behind 4 home runs.
Seattle now holds a 1/2 advantage over the Tigers for second A.L. wild card, but remain 1.5 games behind the Royals in the wild card standings.