Jeremy Guthrie Pitches Royals into the Post-Season

The Kansas City Royals clinched a wild card spot with a 3-1 victory over the White Sox in Chicago Friday night. For the first time in 29 years, the Royals will play in the post-season.

Right now, it doesn’t seem real.

The Royals jumped on White Sox starter Hector Noesi with 3 hits in their first 3 at bats to score 2 runs. Kansas City added another score to post a 3-0 lead in the first.

Jeremy Guthrie shut down the White Sox over 7 strong inning, allowing 0 runs and striking out 6. Guthrie earned his 13th win of the season.

The win secures the Royals a certain wild card spot, and also pulled Kansas City within 1 game of the Tigers in the American League Central after Detroit lost 11-4 to Minnesota. With 2 games to play. the A.L. Central title is still up in the air.

On the Mound

Jeremy Guthrie had his good stuff on Friday night, pitching 7.0 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 walk, and 0 runs with 6 strikeouts. He left the game leading 3-0, and ended up getting credit for his 13th win of the season (13-11).

Wade Davis entered in the 8th, and gave up 1 run on a triple and RBI single before shutting down the White Sox. Davis left the game with Kansas City leading 3-1.

Greg Holland recorded his 46th save with a clean 9th inning, to put the Royals in the playoffs.

At the Plate

The Royals scored all 3 of their runs in the first inning. Alcides Escobar started off the game with a single, followed by Aoki’s RBI triple. Lorenzo Cain singled to centerfield to score Aoki, and then Cain stole 2nd (28) as Eric Hosmer struck out swinging. Billy Butler picked up Cain with a single to make the score 3-0.

Escobar and Billy Butler were the only Royals with more than one hit. Escobar went 2 for 4 with 2 singles and 1 run scored. Butler also went 2-4 with 2 singles, but added an RBI.

Overall, the Royals only managed 7 hits and 2 walks, but did bunch 4 hits in the 1st to score 3 runs. Aoki’s 1st inning triple was the only extra-base hit.

This and That

The top 3 hitters in the Royals lineup all continued hitting streaks in the 1st inning. Escobar has a 7-game hitting streak, Aoki has a 6-game hitting streak, while Cain extended his hitting streak to 8 games.

Eric Hosmer’s hitting streak ended at 7 games when he went 0-3. He did get on base with a walk.

The run Wade Davis surrendered in the 8th put his ERA at exactly a full run (1.00). It’s the first time this season Davis’ ERA has been this high.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Jeremy Guthrie gets our nod for his 7 shutout innings and his 13th win of the season. While many questioned Guthrie’s 3-year, $24 million contract when he signed it in 2013, he has certainly been worth it through the first 2 years of his deal.