Kansas City Royals Might Benefit From Giants’ Luck
Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
NLCS Game 2: Giants 4 – Cardinals 5
Game two of the NLCS could very well be a prophecy of what will come in the next week – it definitely reminds me of a couple of the Royals games this postseason. The Giants came into the game leading the series 1-0 but started slowly, finding themselves in a 2 run hole heading into the fifth. They played KC small-ball, though, taking the lead in the top of the 7th after a fielder’s choice and a couple singles. Two Cardinals home runs in the 7th and 8th put St. Louis back in front.
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Things got crazy in the last two frames of the game, though, which may bode well for the Royals. First, in an amazing display of double-ewe-tee-eff, the Cardinals let the Giants tie the game on a wild pitch, which allowed pinch-runner Matt Duffy to score from second. Not to be outshined in sad pitching moments, SF closer Sergio Romo gave up a walk-off home run on his second offering to Kolten Wong.
Giants’ starter Jake Peavy wasn’t pitching horribly, giving up only two runs, but was pulled after only four innings of work. The oft compared bullpen didn’t look as dominant as San Francisco fans would have you believe, though, giving up four hits including three solo home runs.
What does this mean for Kansas City?
The Royals have had some success against Peavy in the past and will hope to continue this in Game 2 on Wednesday. Peavy has only thrown in two games this postseason, so he should be well rested, but Butler and Escobar both have multiple home runs against him and Gordon is hitting .357/.379/.536 against him. He’ll be throwing against Ventura too, so I’m liking this match up.
Don’t overlook the Cardinals sudden power surge in this game as well. St. Louis wasn’t too far ahead of KC in home runs during the regular season, but ripped four of them in this game. Much like the Royals hitters, Wong came up big in the 9th despite hitting only 12 HR all year. Three of these dingers came while the Giants relievers were on the mound, too.
Lastly, don’t ignore the fact that the Cardinals let the Giants back into the game on a terrible pitch that 1) Holland probably won’t throw and 2) Salvy wouldn’t likely let get by him. The Giants better not be relying on fluke plays like that to save them playing against a Royals team that is making very few mistakes right now.