Eric Hosmer’s 2-Run Shot Downs Angels in 11th Inning

Oct 3, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer hits a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels in the 11th inning in game two of the 2014 ALDS playoff baseball game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Hosmer continued his star turn in the post-season, this time slamming a 2-run home run in the top of the 11th inning to give the Kansas City Royals a 3-1 lead. The Royals finished off the Angels 4-1 on Friday night in Anaheim to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Hosmer’s home run turned rookie Brandon Finnegan into a winner for the first time in the post-season, after he began the season pitching in college for TCU before Kansas City selected him no. 21 overall in the June draft.

Welcome to the big leagues, young man.

On the Mound

Rookie Yordano Ventura gave the Royals everything Ned Yost could have wanted. Ventura pitched 7.0 innings, giving up 5 hits, 1 walk, and 1 earned run with 5 stirkeouts. Ventura left the game with the score tied 1-1 and took a no decision.

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Wade Davis entered in the 8th and pitched a scoreless inning despite allowing a hit.

Jason Frasor‘s clean 9th inning took the teams into extra innings.

Brandon Finnegan added another scoreless inning to his resume despite allowing a walk.Finnegan got credit for the win after Kansas City’s 3-run rally in the 11th.

Greg Holland nailed down the save with a clean 11th inning.

 At the Plate

The Royals scratched out a run in the 2nd inning on Eric Hosmer‘s leadoff single, and advanced to 2nd on Kole Calhoun‘s fielding error. Billy Butler then popped up for the first out, but Alex Gordon‘s single up the middle scored Hosmer to give KC a 1-0 lead.

The Angels tied the game in the 6th on Albert Pujols‘ RBI single to right against Ventura and the teams remained knotted until Kansas City broke through in the 11th inning.

Lorenzo Cain beat out an infield single to short with one out in the 11th, followed by Eric Hosmer’s moon shot over the rightfield corner to put Kansas City up 3-1. After Josh Willingham popped out to second, Alex Gordon drew a walk, stole 2nd, and advanced to 3rd on a throwing error by catcher Chris Iannetta.

Salvador Perez then chipped in with an infield single to score Gordon which gave Kansas City a commanding 4-1 lead.

Eric Hosmer was the hitting star for the Royals, going 3 for 4 with 2 singles, a home run, 1 walk, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBI’s. This comes after Hosmer reached base 5 times in the wild card game against Oakland, including a triple that set up the tying run in the 12th.

This and That

The Kansas City Royals became the first team in MLB history to open the playoffs with 3 extra innings games—as well as the first to WIN 3 extra-inning games to open their playoff run.

The game featured the first match-up of 2 rookie starting pitchers in American League history between Yordano Ventura and Matt Shoemaker.

Kansas City’s defense played a massive role in their victory. The Royals pulled off 3 double plays to kill Angel rallies in 5th, 8th, and 10th. The key play came in the 8th after C.J. Cron led off the inning with a double. Chris Iannetta flied out to center, and pinch-runner Collin Cowgill tried to advance to 3rd only to get cut down by a strong throw from centerfielder Jarrod Dyson.

Omar Infante then turned a nifty double play to end the 10th inning after Alcides Escobar made a high throw to 2nd, but Infante was still able to make the relay throw to 1st base.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Eric Hosmer is the easy choice, after his 2-run home run in the 11th put the Royals ahead 3-1.

The Angels

Matt Shoemaker hadn’t pitched in 18 days after suffering an injury during the season, but put in an impressive performance on Friday. Shoemaker pitched 6.0 innings, allowing 5 hits, 0 walks, and 1 run (0 earned) with 5 strikeouts.

Up Next

The Royals and Angels have an off-day on Saturday as the series moves to Kansas City for games 3 and 4 (if necessary). Kansas City will send Big Game James Shields (14-8, 3.21 ERA) to the mound to nail down the sweep, while the Angels will counter with C.J. Wilson (13-10, 4.51 ERA). Game time is 6:37 PM CST at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.