Eric Hosmer’s Key Hit Drives Kansas City Royals to Game Three Win
By John Viril
Oct 24, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) hits a RBI single against the San Francisco Giants in the sixth inning during game three of the 2014 World Series at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
The Kansas City Royals took a 2-1 lead in the World Series by winning game three 3-2 in San Francisco.
More from Kansas City Royals
- This Plus-Money Bobby Witt Jr. Prop Bet is on Fire (Hit in 15/21 Games)!
- The Royals Need to Extend Bobby Witt Jr. Immediately
- DraftKings + FanDuel Kansas Promos: INSTANT $150 Bonus Plus Two Chances to Win!
- 3 Royals Players Who Won’t Be on the Roster Next Year
- LAST CHANCE to Claim $250 GUARANTEED Bonus With FanDuel and DraftKings Kansas Promos!
Eric Hosmer came through with a terrific 11-pitch at bat before stroking an RBI single to drive in Alex Gordon from 2nd to give Kansas City a 3-0 lead in the 6th. That clutch hit allowed the Royals to withstand a 2-run Giant rally in the 6th, and a shaky performance from Kelvin Herrera who did not have sharp command.
Jeremy Guthrie also pitched 5 shutout innings in a strong start before running into trouble in the 6th. After rookie Brandon Finnegan bailed out Herrera, the Royals back end of Wade Davis and Greg Holland nailed down the win with minimal drama.
On the Mound
Jeremy Guthrie went 5.0 innings, allowing 4 hits, 0 walks, and 2 earned runs. Guthrie pitched into the 6th, giving up a leadoff single to Brandon Crawford and a double down the 3rd base line to pinch hitter Mike Morse. Guthrie left the game with the Royals leading 3-1.
Kelvin Herrera relieved Guthrie in the 6th with a runner on 2nd and 0 outs. Herrera walked Gregor Blanco, Joe Panik advanced the runners to 2nd and 3rd with a chopper to first, and a grounder to 2nd by Buster Posey drove in Morse to make the score 3-2.
Herrera lasted into the 7th, walking the leadoff batter and then striking out Brandon Belt. Herrera pitched 1.0 innings, allowing 2 walks and 0 earned runs with 1 strikeout. Despite not allowing any runs, Herrera struggled with his command. Manager Ned Yost was wise to pull him for rookie Brandon Finnegan.
Oct 24, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Brandon Finnegan throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the 7th inning during game three of the 2014 World Series at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Brandon Finnegan relieved Herrera in the 7th with 1 man on first and 1 out. Finnegan got pinch hitter Juan Perez to fly out to right, and struck out Brandon Crawford to escape the inning without damage. Finnegan went .2 innings, with 0 hits and 0 earned runs with 1 strikeout.
Wade Davis entered in the 8th, and allowed 0 hits, 0 walks, and 0 earned runs with 2 strikeouts.
Greg Holland came on in the 9th and nailed down yet another save.
At the Plate
Alcides Escobar led off the game with a double, advanced to 3rd on Alex Gordon’s grounder to second, and scored on Cain’s grounder to short to put KC up 1-0 in the first.
Escobar got it going in the 6th with a single, and he scored on Alex Gordon’s double to deep center. After Cain grounded out to 3rd, Eric Hosmer picked up Gordon with a solid single to center after a long, 11-pitch at bat against reliever Javier Lopez. The Royals scored 2 critical runs to give Guthrie a 3-0 lead.
Alcides Escobar was the only Royal to get more than 1 hit, going 2 for 4 with a double, single, and 2 runs scored from the leadoff spot. Overall, Kansas City only managed 6 hits, 2 extra base hits (both doubles), while plating 3 runs.
This and That
Royals manager Ned Yost’s move to replace Nori Aoki by playing Jarrod Dyson in center and moving Lorenzo Cain to right paid off when Cain made two nice catches to rob Giant hitters.
Oct 24, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants right fielder Hunter Pence catches a ball hit by Kansas City Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain (not pictured) in the fourth inning during game three of the 2014 World Series at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants countered with some nice defensive plays of their own. Travis Ishikawa robbed Salvador Perez on a hard drive to left field that likely saved a run. Hunter Pence also made a nice running catch on a hard hit ball toward the right field line to take an extra-base hit from Lorenzo Cain. Pablo Sandoval also made a nifty grab by barehanding a spinning ground ball to 3rd in the 9th inning.
Twenty-one year old Brandon Finnegan became the first player to ever appear in the College World Series and the major league World Series in the same season.
The Royals are 9-0 when Herrera, Davis, and Holland all pitch in the same game.
KC Kingdom Player of the Game
Eric Hosmer gets our nod for his terrific at bat in the 6th in which he fought off numerous strikes by spraying foul balls in an 11-pitch at bat to drive in what turned out to be the winning run. Hosmer ended up going 1 for 4 with a single and 1 RBI.
Up Next
The Royals and Giants will play game 4 of the World Series in San Francisco. Jason Vargas (11-10, 3.71) ERA) will pitch for Kansas City, while Giants manager Broce Bochy is expected to counter with Ryan Vogelsong (8-13, 4.00 ERA), except he has yet to announce his starter. Game time is 7:07 PM CST at AT&T Park in San Francisco.