MLB 2014 World Series Game 6 Schedule & Predictions: Kansas City Royals vs. San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are just one game away from winning the 2014 World Series, but they must first vanquish the Kansas City Royals, who they dominated in Monday's Game 5, on Tuesday as Game 6 of the World Series kicks off from Kansas City, Missouri.
The Giants took the lead in the Series on Monday with an impressive 5-0 win behind Madison Bumgarner's four-hit shutout performance, putting the Giants in position to win their third World Series title in five years and cementing their legacy as a modern era dynasty.
If the Giants can win Game 6 on the road, it will be their third World Series title in the last five years.
Latin Post.com previews and predicts Game 6 of the 2014 edition of the Fall Classic:
Kansas City Royals
Since winning the World Series in 1985 against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Royals had missed the postseason every year since. This year's squad finally broke the drought and made the postseason with an 89-73 record.
After finishing second in the American League Central, the Royals defeated the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wild Card Game, 9-8. Salvador Perez delivered the game-winning hit in the 12th inning. From there, the Royals eliminated the No. 1 seed Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Baltimore Orioles, sweeping both teams.
The Royals lost Game 1 of the World Series, with James Shields losing to Madison Bumgarner, but returned the favor with wins in Games 2 and 3. Even though the Royals trail in the series 3-2, there's no reason to panic just yet. The World Series has a 2-3-2 format, (since 1924) meaning that the Royals will be playing Game 6 and possibly Game 7 at home.
Alcides Escobar, Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain and Salvador Perez have been the best hitters for the Royals this postseason. Esobar and Perez have a team-leading six hits in the World Series so far. Their starting pitching hasn't been very impressive in the first five game, but the bullpen has been outstanding.
Yordano Ventura will start Game 6 for the Royals. Ventura started Game 2 and had an average performance. In Game 2, Ventura pitched 5.1 innings allowing just two runs for a game ERA of 3.38.
"There was only one ace in this World Series and was [Madison] Bumgarner," Fox Deportes analyst and former Houston Astro Jose Tolentino said to Latin Post.com Tuesday before the game. "But today, [he is] the guy who has the best arsenal, who has the brightest future takes the mound. If Ventura can control his emotions, mix up his pitches, no one will touch him. He can't just settle on his fastball. He has to throw some curve-balls, a change-up every once in while so that the hitters can't sit on his fastball. I think he can control his emotions. It's less difficult being a hero than the guy who rescues the team."
San Francisco Giants
This team just never gives up. The Giants have won two of the last four World Series championships for a reason, and manager Bruce Bochy is one of the best in the business. Even back in 1998, Bochy led the San Diego Padres to a National League pennant, though his team was swept by the New York Yankees in the World Series, 4-0.
This team, just like the Royals, is a wild card team. They finished second place in the National League West behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, but that didn't hold them back. This postseason, the Giants eliminated the St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pablo Sandoval leads the Giants this postseason with 22 hits. Hunter Pence and Buster Posey have been RBI machines for the Giants, while Bumgarner is looking like the second coming of Bob Gibson. The Giants just need to simply win one of the next two road games, and they are once again the World Series Champions.
Jake Peavy will start Game 6 for the Giants. Peavy pitched in Game 2 but had a disappointing performance. In Game 2, Peavy last five innings allowing four runs for a game ERA of seven.
"It's all about emotions. He has to take advantage of their desperation," said Tolentino. "Peavy is not going to throw at you 95 [miles per hour] any more so he has to work the corners. He has to take advantage of the Royals' emotions running high. And he has to make sure [Billy] Butler doesn't step to the plate with runners on base because Butler is hitting above .700 with runners on-board."
Schedule, Where to Watch
The Kansas City Royals will play the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 8:07 p.m. EST in Kansas City, Missouri at Kauffman Stadium. The game will be shown on FOX. Live streaming of the game can be viewed here.
Prediction
The Royals have shown great resilience all season long, and this will be their toughest test yet. Before they worry about winning Game 7, they have to focus on this game. Ventura should be able to out-pitch Peavy again at home.
Royals win 5-4
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