Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas Slam Home Runs in Tenth for Royals Win

Oct 10, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder

Alex Gordon

(4) hits a solo home run in the 10th inning against the Baltimore Orioles in game one of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Gordon came back from getting hit in the neck in the 8th inning, to slam a solo home run in the 10th to break a 5-5 tie in the Kansas City Royals a 8-6 victory over the Orioles in Baltimore.

Mike Moustakas then blasted a 2-run shot to right field to give Kansas City a 3-run bulge. Moustakas’ blow ended up being the difference after a 10th inning Oriole rally that scored one run and put the winning run at the plate.

For one night, it looks like Kansas City is the team that led the AL in home runs instead of the Orioles.

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In a wild game that featured a Baltimore comeback from a 5-1 deficit by playing small ball, the Royals responded with 2 home runs to take game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

Gordon’s blow came after a top of the 9th inning where the Royals failed to score after Baltimore closer Zack Britton walked the bases loaded with no outs. After a force at home on a ground by Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The Royals have won their 4th straight extra inning game in post-season play. They have also gone to extas in 4 out of 5 playoff games this season.

For the Royals to withstand blowing an early 4-run lead and failing to score in the 9th with the bases-loaded and no outs is a testament to their mental strength. I feared the Royals were losing their composure in the 7th inning when Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler openly yelled at the umpire after taking called third strikes. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The Kansas City Royals are a tough, tough team.

On the Mound

Big Game James Shields again struggled in the post-seasson. He lasted 5.0 innings, allowing 10 hits, 1 walk, and 4 earned runs with 3 strikeouts. Shields did make some big pitches to escape the 5th inning with a slim 5-4 lead. That performance, however, was very disappointing after the Royals had staked Shields to a 5-1 lead by the bottom of the 5th.

Brandon Finnegan came on in the 6th, and failed to retire a hitter. Finnegan gave up 2 hits, 1 walk and 1 earned run.

Kelvin Herrera came on in the 6th with 2 runners on and no outs and managed to end the inning with no further damage. Herrera restored order by going 2.0 innings without allowing a hit or a walk.

Wade Davis pitched a clean 8th with 1 strikeout, and struck out the side in the 9th.

Greg Holland entered in the 10th to nail down his 3rd post-season save, despite an Oriole rally in the 10th that plated one run and put the winning run at the plate.

At the Plate

Alcides Escobar got thing started for the Royals with a solo home run in the top of the 3rd. Nori Aoki then singled, and Cain walked. After Hosmer struck out, Billy Butler reached on an infield single to load the bases. Alex Gordon then muscled a ball into the right field corner despite breaking his bat to clear the bases with 3 RBI’s to stake KC to a 4-0 lead.

After the Orioles responded with an RBI single from Adam Jones to make the score 4-1, Kansas City then extended their lead to 5-1 when Cain legged out a leadoff double, advanced to 3rd on a groundout, and scored on Billy Butler‘s sacrifice fly.

The Orioles, however, scored 3 runs in the 5th inning and tied the game in the 6th on an infield pop that scored Jonathan Schoop from 3rd.

This and That

Defense was on display by both teams early in the game. JJ Hardy snared a line drive to end the Royals 2nd. Meanwhile, Alcides Escobar saved a run on Nick Huntley’s infield single by keeping the ball in the infield. The Royals up escaping the 2nd without damage by leaving the bases loaded.

Alex Gordon also took the heat out of Oriole rally in the 3rd with a sliding catch in right.

Kansas City’s vaunted defense betrayed the team in the 6th inning, when C Salvador Perez had picked off the lead runner in a 1st and 2nd situation with no outs, but Escobar’s throw to 3rd hit the runner in the back, putting Orioles at 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Baltimore ended up tying the game 5-5 on an infield single that Escobar could not catch on the fly.

Royals then turned a nice double play to escape the 6th

Oriole 2nd baseman Jonathan Schoop made a nice tag to get Royals base stealing wizard Jarrod Dyson in a play in which he had the base stolen, but his leg came off the bag in the 7th.

Lorenzo Cain and Billy Butler then took called 3rd strikes. Both turned around and yelled at home plate umpire Tim Timmons. This loss of composure was a poor move, because it ensured that the Royals wouldn’t get any close calls in the late innings. It was the first crack I have seen in the Royals in this post-season. Finally. the Orioles pulled off a key force play at home plate on Eric Hosmer‘s grounder in the 9th with the bases-loaded and no outs. First baseman Steve Pierce threw home to Nick Hundley who made an outstanding snow-cone catch. The Orioles then escaped with no damage when Darren O’Day got Billy Butler on an inning-ending double play.

The Royals became the first team to win 4 extra-inning games in a single post-season.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Alex Gordon gets our nod for his 10th inning home run and his 3 RBI double that got the Royals going in the 3rd. Gordon also added an outstanding defensive play in the 4th to kill an Oriole rally. Gordon went 3 for 4 with a single, double, and home run with 1 run scored and 4 RBI’s,

The Orioles

2nd baseman Jonathan Schoop made two big plays. He made a great read in the 5th inning on Alejandro De Aza‘s infield chopped up the middle that Escobar could not catch. Schoop’s break allowed him to score the tying run in the 6th. Schoop then prevented Dyson from stealing second with an outstanding tag that caught Dyson off the bag after he appeared safe.

Up Nex

Royals and Orioles play the 2nd game of the ALCS on Saturday. The Royals are expected to start Yordano Ventura (14-10, 3.20 ERA), while the Orioles tabbed Bud Norris (15-8, 3.65) as their game 2 starter after the game.. Game time is 3:07 PM CST at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

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