Jarrod Dyson and Terrance Gore Steal Comeback Victory for Royals

Sep 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals pinch runner

Terrance Gore

(0) is congratulated by Kansas City Royals left fielder

Alex Gordon

(4) after scoring the winning run against the Chicago White Sox in the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City won the game 4-3. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

With the Kansas City Royals poised to lose to the lowly White Sox Monday night, speed merchants Jarrod Dyson and Terrance Gore ran wild to score 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th for a 4-3 comeback victory.

With the Royals down to their final out, Dyson—who entered the game as a pinch runner—stole 3rd and scored on a wild pitch by Chicago reliever Jake Petricka to tie the game. After Nori Aoki hit a double, Ned Yost used yet another pinch runner in Terrance Gore. Gore turned on the jets to score from 2nd on Lorenzo Cain’s infield single to win the game.

Wins don’t get any bigger than this one.

With the Royals fading in the A.L. Central, Kansas City literally stole away a game that looked to be lost. The win allowed the Royals to keep pace with the Tigers, who rallied in the 9th to defeat the Twins 8-6 in Detroit. Kansas City remains 1.5 games behind Detroit in the A.L. Central.

On the Mound

James Shields scuffled through 7.0 innings, allowing 10 hits, 0 walks, and 3 runs with 6 strikeouts. Though he got a no-decision, Shields did enough to keep the game within reach.

Kelvin Herrera entered in the 8th and pitched a scoreless inning despite allowing 2 hits.

Wade Davis recorded a scoreless 9th to get his 9th win of the season (9-2) after Kansas City rallied for 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th.

At the Plate

The Royals only managed 1 hit through the first six innings, but plated runs in the last 3 frames against Chicago’s horrendous bullpen to pull out the win.

Kansas City got on the board in the 7th inning. Eric Hosmer blooped a double down the left field line that beat Chicago’s defensive shift. Omar Infante drove in Hosmer with an RBI single, but Alex Gordon‘s double-play grounder killed the rally.

The Royals continued to chip away in the 8th when Nori Aoki led off the inning with an infield single and took second on a wild throw to first. After a ground out by Lorenzo Cain, Aoki took 3rd on a wild pitch by reliever Zach Putnam and scored on Alex Gordon’s RBI single to center.

In the 9th, Mike Moustakas hit a 1 out double to left. Jarrod Dyson came in to run for Moustakas before Alcides Escobar ground out. Dyson then stole 3rd and scored on a wild pitch. Nori Aoki doubled and Ned Yost pinch ran with Terrance Gore. With Gore running on the pitch, Lorenzo Cain hit an infield single and Gore scored the winning run when Cain beat out the throw to first.

Nori Aoki went 4 for 4 with 3 singles, 1 double, 1 walk, and 1 run scored. Aoki was the only Royals batter with more than 1 hit.

This and That

Nori Aoki had his first 4 for 4 game in a Royals uniform Monday night, and only the 3rd of his career.

The White Sox turned critical double plays in the 6th and 7th innings, to frustrate the Royals after promising starts to both innings. At the time, it looked like those defensive plays would doom the Royals, who trailed 3-1 after 7.

Kelvin Herrera extended his scoreless streak to 31.2 innings.

Wade Davis also extended his scoreless streak to 32.1 innings.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

I’m going with Terrance Gore, with apologies to Nori Aoki who reached base 5 times.

Gore came into the game in the 9th as the 2nd pinch runner of the inning. Gore took off for 3rd base as Lorenzo Cain grounded an infield hit to 2nd. When the White Sox could not field the chopper, Gore came around to score the winning run.

That’s what speed do, on both ends of the play. If Cain doesn’t make the Sox hurry the play, Gore doesn’t score.