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Royals Provide Crowning Moments During Postseason Run
It's been nearly three decades since the Royals fanbase had a contender to cheer for, but those days are just blips of memory now.
Diving over rails and running into outfield walls. Clutch hits with the game on the line. That’s the, a young team seemingly unaffected by the bright lights of October baseball, despite the organization’s previous 29-year playoff drought.
It’s been nearly three decades since the Royals fanbase had a contender to cheer for, but those days are just blips of memory now. Barely a thought thanks to all of the highlight-reel, game-saving moments the team has provided during their current eight-game win streak that has propelled the Royals into the Fall Classic against the San Francisco Giants.
Kansas City finished last in the MLB in homeruns during the regular season, saving their power for the postseason. Coming into the playoffs, the Royers were best known for their speed (ranked first), contact (lowest team strikeout rate) saves (tied for third) and defense (ranked seventh). Not for the long ball.
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But the playoffs begin a new season, and the Royals flipped the script with their power play, launching the most homers in the American League, and second-most behind St. Louis in the 2014 postseason. Many coming at the most opportune time; proving to be deciding factors.
The Royals blasted homers in the 10th inning or later in three of their first four postseason games. Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer and Alex Gordon all played the hero with their late inning homerun heroics to break ties against the Angels and Orioles in the ALDS and ALCS, respectively. Lorenzo Cain didn’t go long in Game 2 of the ALCS, but his 4-for-5 effort and one of two RBI in the top of the 9th inning proved to another difference maker.
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Those clutch hits are the main reason the Royals lead the postseason in team offense. And while we aren’t used to seeing KC’s power, their superior speed, bullpen and defense come as no surprise. Seven steals in the Wild Card Game. A 1.13 ERA, three wins and four saves from the bullpen in the ALCS.
And that defense... A dive into the field suites from Moustakas, Gordon smacking into the left field fence and Cain sliding, diving and jumping all over centerfield. All for outs.
Does Kansas City have enough crowning moments remaining to become baseball royalty for the first time in 29 years? Those answers will be provided starting Tuesday when the World Series begins play in Kansas City.
