Mike Moustakas’ Home Run Wins ALDS Opener for Royals

ls Oct 2, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman

(8) watches his home run during the eleventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels in game one of the 2014 American League divisional series at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Royals won their 2nd extra-inning playoff game, this time defeating the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Mike Moustakas‘ solo home run in the 11th inning Thursday night in Anaheim.

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Kansas City now leads the best-of-five American League Divisional Series 1-0.

Moustakas, who grew up in Southern California, ruined the party for his hometown team by slamming a pitch from Angel reliever Fernando Salas 374 feet over the right-center wall. Greg Holland then entered in the 11th and shut down the Angels with a clean inning that included 2 strikeouts to earn the first post-season save of his career.

Right now, the Royals continue to defy both sabermetric wisdom, and the expectations of pundits around the league to take the early lead on the heavily-favored Angels, who posted MLB’s best regular-season with 98 wins.

Kansas Ctty pitching held the Angels’ trio of former MVP’s to a combined 0 for 13 with 2 walks. Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and Josh Hamilton were almost non-factors in the game.

On the Mound

Jason Vargas got the job done on Thursday, despite giving up 2 home runs. Vargas went 6.0 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, and 2 runs with 2 strikeouts.. Vargas left the game with the score 2-2, after his outfield defense robbed the Angels of 4 hits and multiple runs.

Kelvin Herrera came on to pitch the 7th and walked the leadoff hitter, before he left the game with a sore forearm.

Brandon Finnegan then recorded the next 2 outs before giving way to Wade Davis who notched the 3rd out in the 7th.

Davis also pitched a scoreless 8th, despite allowing 2 walks.

Tim Collins entered in the 9th and walked the leadoff batter before getting 2 outs.

Jason Frasor finished off the 9th by stranding the winning run at 2nd base.

Danny Duffy pitched a scoreless 10th inning, despite giving up a leadoff single. Duffy got credit for the win after Moustakas’ home run.

Greg Holland nailed down the save in the 11th, striking out 2 in a clean inning.

At the Plate

The Royals opened the scoring on Mike Moustakas‘ 2-out walk in the 3rd inning, followed by an RBI double from Alcides Escobar to put KC ahead 1-0. Los Angeles’ Chris Iannetta knotted the game at 1-1 with a solo home run to right.

In the 5th, Angel Centerfielder Mike Trout lost sight of Alex Gordon‘s drive in the gap, and the ball fell for a leadoff double. Gordon advanced to 3rd on Salvador Perez‘s warning track fly ball, and scored on Omar Infante‘s sacrifice fly to put Kansas City back in the lead 2-1.

Again, the Angels tied the game on a solo home run in the following 1/2 inning. This time David Freese slammed the dinger to tie the game 2-2.

Neither team scored again until the 11th inning, when Mike Moustakas slammed the game-winning home run over the left-center wall.

Overall, Kansas City only managed 4 hits, drew 4 walks, and scored 3 runs in 11 innings of baseball. Fortunately, Royals pitchers also held the Angels to 4 hits, 5 walks, and 2 runs.

This and That

Lorenzo Cain and Nori Aoki flashed some serious leather to keep Kansas City in the game. Cain robbed leadoff hitter Kole Calhoun of extra bases in the 1st inning by making a leaping grab against the center-field wall. Cain also snared Eric Ayabar’s hard liner in the 2nd.

Oct 2, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Kansas City Royals right fielder Norichika Aoki (23) catches a fly hit ball hit by Los Angeles Angels second baseman

(not pictured) under Kansas City Royals center fielder

(6) during the sixth inning in game one of the 2014 American League divisional series at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Nori Aoki also made two outstanding plays in the field.

First, he snared a deep drive to the wall in the 6th with 2 on and 2 out, despite nearly colliding with centerfielder Lorenzo Cain. Aoki again saved a run in the 7th, making a nice play on a warning track drive to right by C.J. Cron that stranded Gordon Beckham at 3rd.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Mike Moustakas is a no-brainer for our award. Hitting a game-winning home run in the 11th inning is sort of a given that you will be your team’s player of the game.

The Angels

Starting pitcher Jered Weaver was impressive for the Angels, holding Kansas City hitters to 3 hits, and 2 walks in 7.0 innings of work with 6 strikeouts. He left the game tied 2-2 and received a no-decision

Up Next

The Royals and Angels square off for game 2 of the American League Division Series in Anaheim. Kansas City will send fireballing rookie Yordano Ventura  (14-10, 3.20 ERA) to the mound, against Matt Shoemaker (16-4, 3.04 ERA) for Los Angeles. Game time is 7:37 PM CST at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.