AL
Royals Battle Back To Tie Series With 5-4 Victory Over Astros
Series shifts to Houston as both teams are tied 1-1.
JAMIE SQUIRE/GETTY IMAGES
The Kansas City Royals were the best team in the American League during the 2015 regular season, but in Game One they faced a team in the Houston Astros that have been on a recent tear, and they dropped the game 5-2. But on Friday afternoon they managed to get back into the series with a come from behind 5-4 victory.
The Astros took an early 1-0 lead in the first when hot hitting Colby Rasmus hit a two out double scoring George Springer, who walked earlier in the inning. In the top of the second, the Astros added to their lead with two runs on a two-RBI single off the bat of Springer extending the lead to 3-0.
Kansas City got one back in the bottom half of the inning when Salvador Perez hit his second home run of the postseason, bringing the Royals within a run at 3-1.
In the top of the third, Rasmus struck again hitting his third home run of the playoffs to extend the lead to 4-1. In the span of three postseason games, Rasmus is batting .333 (4 for 9), three runs, a double, two home runs and five RBIs.
The Royals answered back with a run of their own as Alex Rios scored after Ben Zobrist grounded into a double play.
Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when the Royals tied the game with two runs on a soft line drive RBI single from Eric Hosmer and a bases loaded walk to Perez plating Hosmer.
In the seventh the Royals finally took their first lead of the postseason as Alcides Escobar scored on a single off the bat of Ben Zobrist.
Wade Davis entered the ninth inning and promptly struck out Jed Lowrie on three pitches. Pinch hitter Preston Tucker walked, was replaced by pinch runner Carlos Gomez, and who seemed to get back to first on a pickoff attempt. But after the Royals challenged the call, it was overturned and Gomez was the second out of the inning.
Jose Altuve then hit a sharp ground ball to third base, and Mike Moustakas mad a good play and calmly threw the ball across the diamond to nab Altuve and secure the Royals 5-4 victory.
With the series tied at 1-1, both teams travel to Houston with Game Three scheduled for Sunday at 4:00 pm.
Top Performers
Astros
George Springer – 1 for 3, R, 2 RBI
Colby Rasmus – 2 for 3, R, Double, HR, 2 RBI
Royals
Alcides Escobar – 2 for 5, R, Triple
Ben Zobrist – 2 for 4, RBI
Salvador Perez – 2 for 3, R, HR, 2 RBI
David Conde
David is the Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Legends On Deck®, as well as a Co-Host on Legends On Deck Podcast. David was a Senior Editor for MetsMerizedOnline.com, MetsMinors.net and Contributor for Hardballchat.com that spanned from 2010 to 2014. David made his MLB Debut as a writer in June 2014, while covering the NY Mets at Citi Field, for MetsmerizedOnline.com. David also coaches baseball for ages 13-15, a Babe Ruth League team in his local community. David's passion is coaching the game he loves to the future Legends of Tomorrow as well as making available a website that people can have fun sharing and reading. David is also passionate about his career as a Mortgage Loan Officer which allows him to help many families reach their dreams of owning a home. Connect with David via his Social Media pages as he loves to chat all about baseball.
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