ALCS RECAP

Royals win Game 3, one win shy of World Series

The Sports Xchange

October 14, 2014 at 8:15 pm.

Oct 14, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals outfielders Jarrod Dyson (1) , Alex Gordon (4) and Lorenzo Cain (6) celebrate after defeating the Baltimore Orioles in game three of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game at Kauffman Stadium. Photo Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Pinch runner Jarrod Dyson scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, and Kansas City’s shutdown bullpen held the Baltimore Orioles hitless the final four innings as the Royals earned a 2-1 victory Tuesday night to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the American League Championship Series.

The Royals earned their seventh consecutive postseason win, matching the Colorado Rockies’ run to open the 2007 playoffs that thrust them to their only World Series appearance.

One more Kansas City win would seal the best-of-seven series and send the Royals to the World Series.

The Royals forged ahead in the sixth while chasing Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen. Right fielder Nori Aoki led off the inning with a single, and Dyson ran for him. First baseman Eric Hosmer drilled a single to right with one out, advancing Dyson to third and finished Chen’s evening.

Rookie Kevin Gausman, who made 20 starts during the regular season, was summoned from the bullpen. Royals designated hitter Billy Butler got Dyson home with a sacrifice fly to left.

Kansas City right-hander Jason Frasor, who had not pitched in 10 days, retired the Orioles in order in the sixth and picked up the victory. Frasor, who was acquired in a July 16 trade with the Texas Rangers, got some help from Mike Moustakas. The third baseman tumbled into a Royals’ dugout suite chasing center fielder Adam Jones’ foul popup, but he held onto the ball and received a thunderous ovation from the standing-room crowd of 40,183.

Kelvin Herrera, pumping fastballs from 96 to 99 mph, worked a perfect seventh, striking out Baltimore third baseman Ryan Flaherty and catcher Nick Hundley to end the inning.

Wade Davis struck out one in a spotless eighth. Greg Holland, who logged 46 saves during the regular season, picked up his fifth in the postseason, working a perfect ninth.

The Royals’ bullpen has not allowed a run in the past 12 1/3 innings after giving up a run in the sixth inning Friday.

The Orioles did not manage a hit after right fielder Nick Markakis led off the third with a single. The only baserunner they had after that came when Flaherty walked with two outs in the fourth.

First baseman Steve Pearce and shortstop J.J. Hardy stroked back-to-back doubles in the second inning off Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie, giving the Orioles their first lead in the series. It was the first time in 47 innings Kansas City trailed after an inning ended.

Pearce doubled to the left-center gap and scored on Hardy’s double to right-center.

The Royals tied it in the fourth off Chen. Kansas City loaded the bases with one out when center fielder Lorenzo Cain and Hosmer hit soft singles to the outfield grass and designated hitter Billy Butler walked on five pitches. Left fielder Alex Gordon, who struck out in each of his previous five at-bats, grounded out to second baseman Jonathan Schoop on the first pitch to bring home Cain.

Guthrie was replaced by Frasor to start the sixth. Guthrie limited the Orioles to one run on three hits, throwing 94 pitches. It was the best start by a Royals pitcher in the ALCS.

Chen was charged with two runs on seven hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four.

NOTES: RHP Jeremy Guthrie, who at 35 years, 189 days became the oldest Royal to start a postseason game. … Hall of Famer George Brett threw out the ceremonial first pitch. … Royals manager Ned Yost used the same batting order as he had in the previous six postseason games, but why not? Kansas City won all six. … Royals LHP Jason Vargas will draw the starting assignment for Game 4 on Wednesday. The Orioles will counter with RHP Miguel Gonzalez, who last pitched Sept. 28 in the regular-season finale. … Delmon Young, who has a .389 batting average against Vargas, likely will be the Orioles’ designated hitter Wednesday. … The Monday rainout was the seventh ALCS game postponed by weather since the advent of the wild card in 1995. … Royals RHP Wade Davis became the sixth pitcher in league championship series history to log back-to-back game victories. The previous was Tim Worrell of the San Francisco Giants in 2002.

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