KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After winning three consecutive extra-inning postseason games, the Kansas City Royals enjoyed a laugher Sunday as they cruised into the American League Championship Series against the Baltimore Orioles.
The Royals breezed to an 8-3 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday night to complete a three-game sweep of the AL Division Series.
Kansas City will meet the Orioles in the ALCS, beginning Friday in Baltimore. Royals right-hander James Shields, who limited the Angels to two runs and six hits in the ALDS clincher, will start the series opener.
“We feel like we belong, that we can play with anyone, and that’s always a good feeling,” Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain said. “If we continue to do what we did tonight and let that carry over into Baltimore, I think we can definitely make this thing last until the World Series and hopefully win it.”
Left fielder Alex Gordon, a 2005 first-round pick, went through some lean years with the Royals. His three-run, first-inning double Sunday helped the Royals get back to the ALCS for the first time since 1985, the last year Kansas City reached the postseason before 2014.
“I think we’re past that point,” Gordon said of Kansas City’s long postseason drought. “We’re about now. It’s been a struggle, but we’re here now. It doesn’t matter who does it as long as someone does it and we get the win.”
“Dayton (Moore, the general manager,) has done a great job molding this team to where it’s at now. He really got the right pieces in through the draft and through the trade with James Shields and Wade (Davis). Things are starting to come together. Give a lot of credit to Dayton. He stuck with us. He’s been great.”
In the Royals’ clubhouse, while team owner David Glass was being interviewed, Shields and left-hander Jason Vargas drenched his head with champagne.
“That’s cold,” Glass said. “But it’s great, I’ll take it any day, any time.”
Glass admitted he was nervous during the game.
“I’m a nervous wreck,” he said. “I just can’t show I’m a nervous wreck. But it is great. I’m so proud of this bunch. They’ve grown up. They’re a team now. They play as a team, and they’re going to be tough to beat.”
Next up is the Orioles. During the regular season, the Royals won four of seven from Baltimore, but the two teams have not met May 18.
“We’re playing well right now, but Baltimore is, too,” Gordon said. “It’s going to be a challenge going there. We know what they have — good pitching and great defense, kind of like us, and they’ve got some hitters in their lineup. It’s going to be a challenge, but we’re ready for the challenge.”
Shields added about the Orioles’ success in sweeping the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS, “They just beat three Cy Young winners, but we’re not afraid of those guys.”