MLB Standings, Schedule & News: Kansas City Royals Win AL Pennant, Look to Win 2014 World Series
The baseball magic in Kansas City, Missouri continues.
The Kansas City Royals are going to the World Series after sweeping the Baltimore Orioles. Royals fans have been waiting a very long time for this moment. As a franchise, the Royals won the American League Pennant in 1980, but lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in six games. Five years later in 1985, the Royals returned to the big game, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in a thrilling seven-game series.
Unfortunately for Royals fans, their team would not make it back to the postseason for another 29 years.
This season, the Royals clinched a wild card berth with an 89-73 record, good enough for second place in the American League Central behind the Detroit Tigers. In the AL Wild Card round, they defeated the Oakland Athletics, despite trailing 7-3 late in the game and facing ace pitcher Jon Lester. But, maybe it was a fluke.
In the American League Division Series, the Royals stunned the baseball world by defeating the No. 1 seed Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Angels were the best team during the regular season with an impressive 98-64 record. The Royals didn't just beat the Angels; they swept them. In the American League Championship Series, the Royals continued their dominance by sweeping the favored Baltimore Orioles 4-0.
The Royals are now the only team in MLB history to begin a postseason 8-0.
Even though the Royals ranked dead last in home runs hit during the regular season, their bats have come alive this postseason. The Royals' eight home runs hit during this postseason ranks second among teams, only behind the Cardinals. Incredibly, the Royals have scored 42 runs in their eight playoff games, an average of more than five runs per game.
Eric Hosmer, who had an average season, leads the Royals in hits this postseason with 13. Lorenzo Cain was the Most Valuable Player of the ALCS. Cain has 12 hits and a terrific .353 batting average thus far. Of course, Alcides Escobar has been a pivotal piece as well. The Venezuelan hitter has two doubles and 15 total bases in the playoffs.
The biggest surprise has been Mike Moustakas, who leads the team with four home runs.
But aside from all the offensive statistics, the biggest reason the Royals are winning is because of defense. James Shields and Wade Davis are racking up the wins and strikeouts, with terrific fielding behind them. The Royals bullpen has been perfect. Greg Holland, who had 46 saves this regular season, has six saves in the eight playoff games. Middle reliever Kelvin Herrera has allowed just one run in his 8.1 innings pitched.
Moving forward, the Royals will have to play either the St. Louis Cardinals -- who they faced in the '85 World Series -- or the San Francisco Giants. Currently, the Giants hold a 3-1 series lead in the National League Championship Series. Luckily for the Royals, they will have home-field advantage in the World Series because the AL defeated the NL in the annual All-Star Game.
During the regular season, the Royals defeated the Giants in all three games they played. The Royals defeated the Cardinals in three of the four games they played against one another. So, the Royals have shown they can match up well with National League teams.
Game 1 of the 2014 World Series is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The game will be shown on Fox.
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