The Playoff Race: Kansas City Royals Belly-Flop Once Again, Lose to Tigers
By John Viril
Sep 20, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop
Alcides Escobar(2) misses a ground ball to second in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The Kansas City Royals continue to slide, this time losing 3-2 in the 2nd game of their showdown with the Tigers.
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The Royals failed in a lot of little things: failing to score baserunners from 3rd base with less than 2 outs twice in the first 3 innings. Worst of all, Salvador Perez turned a gift run into an out when Detroit 2nd baseman Ian Kinsler made a wild throw to 2nd after snaring a line drive. The ball skidded into the outfield, allowing Perez to score; but he forgot to tag 3rd base. Instead of taking a 2-1 lead in the 6th inning, Perez created an inning-ending double play.
Further, Big Game James Shields broke down in the 7th inning, allowing a 2 run rally with 2 outs to give up a 3-1 lead.
Terrible. Just terrible.
Add in blatantly stupid decisions from manager Ned Yost, and the Royals squandered multiple opportunities in a 1-run game.
Pathetic. And unacceptable. And, its not what teams that make it to the playoffs do when under pressure.
A.L CENTRAL
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.
The Tigers are pulling away from the rest of the division, as the Royals continue their late-season debacle. The Tigers are now 2.5 games ahead of the Royals with 9 games to play (for Kansas City). The Royals pretty much HAVE to win on Sunday to have ANY chance at the A.L Central title, and they face an unfavorable pitching matchup with Jeremy Guthrie (11-11, 4.35 ERA) going against Rick Porcello (15-11, 3.19 ERA).
That’s not good.
The Cleveland Indians also gained ground on the Royals, winning 7-3 over the Twins. Cleveland is barely breathing in the race for the division title, but are only 3.5 games behind Kansas City.
A.L. WILD CARD
| Rk | Tm | W | L | W-L% | GB | Strk | ExInn | 1Run | ≥.500 | <.500 | last10 | last20 | last30 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | OAK | 84 | 70 | .545 | — | L 1 | 12-8 | 21-25 | 43-38 | 41-32 | 3-7 | 6-14 | 11-19 |
| 5 | KCR | 83 | 70 | .542 | — | L 2 | 5-7 | 22-23 | 41-44 | 42-27 | 4-6 | 9-11 | 14-16 |
| 6 | SEA | 83 | 71 | .539 | 0.5 | L 1 | 3-7 | 16-26 | 41-32 | 42-39 | 4-6 | 11-9 | 16-14 |
| 7 | CLE | 80 | 74 | .519 | 3.5 | W 1 | 13-8 | 23-21 | 35-45 | 46-29 | 5-5 | 10-10 | 17-13 |
| 8 | NYY | 79 | 75 | .513 | 4.5 | L 1 | 7-7 | 26-23 | 38-43 | 41-32 | 4-6 | 9-11 | 16-14 |
| 9 | TOR | 78 | 76 | .506 | 5.5 | W 1 | 5-8 | 14-19 | 36-44 | 42-32 | 3-7 | 11-9 | 14-16 |
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.
The A’s continue to blow chances to secure their position atop the wild card heap, losing 3-0 to lowly Philadelphia. The A’s are a mere .5 game ahead of the Royals for the top wild card position.
The Mariners gained .5 of a game by having an off day, paired with Kansas City’s loss to Detroit. Seattle now looms .5 game behind the Royals for the 2nd wild card spot.
Kansas City, Seattle, and Oakland are all under .500 over their last 10 games. It’s like picking among a selection of 500lbs. bathing beauties to crown a winner.
Cleveland, however, has snuck back into the race, sitting 3.5 games behind the Royals with 8 to play (for Cleveland)