Many expected an ALCS matchup between the Los Angeles Angels and the Detroit Tigers. Don’t tell that to their opponents, though, as the Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles have pushed both to the brink of elimination with Game 2 victories on Friday.
Kansas City Royals’ Extra Inning Dominance Continues with 4-1 Win over Angels in 11
The Kansas City Royals don’t mind putting in a little overtime if the result remains the same.
So far, all three of the Royals’ postseason games this year have gone into extra innings – and they’ve won all three. Kansas City’s latest thriller came Friday night as the Royals topped the Los Angeles Angels, 4-1 in 11 innings.
Providing the heroics this time was Eric Hosmer, who delivered a two-run shot in the top of the 11th. Kansas City tacked on another run before closer Greg Holland came on to record his second save of the playoffs.
Last we saw Kansas City starting pitcher Yordano Ventura, he struggled through a difficult postseason debut. In the team’s Wild Card matchup against the Oakland Athletics, Ventura gave up a home run and two earned runs in only 1/3 of an inning of relief. Ventura bounced back in a big way on Friday, pitching seven innings of five-hit ball, giving up only a single earned run.
Pitching Herrera in the Wild Card game proved to be the wrong move. I’ve never been a huge fan of starters coming into big games as relievers, and that’s particularly true for a rookie that was making his debut. Herrera, though, has good stuff and showed it when he got a chance to start.
The Royals also continued using their speed to their advantage, stealing three bases on the night. One of those resulted in a run when Alex Gordon stole second in the 11th, moved to third on a throwing error, and scored on an infield single to give Kansas City an insurance run.
For the Angels, it was the same story as Game 1 when the team got little production from their two offensive stars, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout. Pujols did give the team an RBI, but the pair combined for a 1-8 night and, overall, Los Angeles hasn’t gotten nearly enough offense from them. Pujols and Trout are now 1-16 in the ALDS, and are a big reason the Angels are staring elimination in the face. They aren’t the sole reason for a struggling offense that has failed to support two solid efforts by starting pitchers, but as the stars of the team, they’re more responsible for carrying the load.
Game 3 on Sunday will feature James Shields, who struggled in Kansas City’s Wild Card game against Oakland, facing the Angels’ C.J. Wilson.
Tigers’ Bullpen Can’t Hold Lead Against Orioles in 7-6 Baltimore Win
In Game 1 of the series, the Baltimore Orioles took advantage of a weak Detroit Tigers bullpen. Game 2 played out the same way.
Facing a 5-2 deficit, Baltimore rallied to win 7-6 and take a commanding 2-0 series lead against Detroit. Starter Justin Verlander left the game with the lead, but the team’s relievers couldn’t hold it.
Verlander, for his part, wasn’t spectacular. He did a manageable job giving up three runs in five innings, but wasn’t untouchable. Still, Baltimore’s bats failed to equal Detroit’s offensive outburst in the fourth inning when they scored five runs.
Holding a 6-3 lead in the eighth inning, the Tigers looked poised to even the series. The Orioles had other ideas, though, touching up Joba Chamberlain and Joakim Soria for a second straight game to the tune of four earned runs. Soria took the loss, giving up a bases loaded double to pinch hitter Delmon Young, that cleared the bases.
Chamberlain and Soria were also the goats in Game 1, giving up five earned runs in only 1/3 of an inning. Detroit’s starters haven’t been great, but the relievers have been far worse and because of it, the Tigers now find themselves in an 0-2 series hole with the prospect of their postseason abruptly ending.
Detroit will start their third consecutive Cy Young Award Winner, David Price, against the Orioles’ Miguel Gonzalez in Game 3 on Sunday.
