Home run record falls, questions remain

LOS ANGELES -- Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon carved out a piece of baseball history after belting the 5,694th home run of the Major League Baseball season.

Gordon's towering hit in Toronto on Tuesday night broke the previous record for home runs in a single season, set way back in 2000 in the drug-tainted heart of baseball's Steroid Era.


The record reflects a startling uptick in home runs in recent years. In 2014, there were only 4,186 home runs hit -- meaning 2017 has witnessed a 47 percent increase in homers this year.

Major League Baseball has been struggling to explain away the surge in homers this season.

Some players have suggested that the answer lies in the balls being used, which some argue are smaller because the seams are lower, meaning there is less air resistance.

Major League Baseball rejects that theory however, insisting that no alterations have been made.

Another theory is that teams are benefiting from advances in technology. MLB's Statcast tool provides teams with a highly accurate, automated system that allows players to analyse technique.

The Pitchf/x system also means teams can measure trajectory, speed, break and location of a pitched ball, making it easier to anticipate where a pitcher may choose to throw.

Yet another theory argues that the increase in home runs can be attributed to the declining stigma attached to striking out. The average number of strikeouts per game has climbed steadily since 2005, from 6.3 to the current level of 8.25.

- 'Bigger, stronger, faster' -

If more players are willing to take a swing irrespective of whether they hit or miss, the theory goes, there is a likelihood more balls will be hit.

The most sinister theory put forward meanwhile is that baseball is in the grip of a new Steroid Era, and that performance enhancing drugs may be behind the spike in homers.

Undermining that hypothesis is the fact that players are now being tested more widely than ever before, with the number of urine and blood tests doubling from 5,136 in 2012 to more than 11,000 in 2017.

"I think the game ebbs and flows," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said last month when asked about the home run bonanza.

"We're in a period where we have bigger, stronger, faster athletes, like all sports. You think about it -— everybody has bigger, stronger, faster athletes.

"I don't think it's surprising that given that development, there's an emphasis on power pitching, which produces strikeouts, and there's an emphasis on power hitting, which gives you a lot of home runs and less balls in play.

"I think that someone will figure out a theory which they use to win with a little different approach to the game, and I suspect that the game will adjust once that happens."

But the proliferation of homers has left some commentators concerned.

"Remember when you used to have to serve an apprenticeship to learn how to drive the ball with authority?" asked New York Post columnist Joel Sherman.

"Home runs are glorious, but less so if every Tom, Dick and Rhys is hitting them in bushels. Like even eating chocolate, too much of anything ultimately becomes unappetizing."

As of Monday, 708 home runs had been scored by rookies, with New York Yankees' Aaron Judge leading the way with 44. Judge is five short of Mark McGwire's record of 49 in a rookie season set in 1987.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger has 38, tied for the third most by a rookie in MLB history.

Miami's Giancarlo Stanton leads the major leagues this season with 56 home runs but is well adrift of the single season home run record, the 73 smacked by Barry Bonds in 2001.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Indians' AL record win streak halted at 22 games

WASHINGTON - The Cleveland Indians' historic winning streak was halted at 22 games on Friday as they fell 4-3 to the Kansas City Royals.

A day after the Indians rallied in the ninth inning en route to a 10th-inning walkoff win over the Royals to keep the streak alive, they were unable to come up with another great escape, and baseball's longest win streak in more than a century ended.

Before a packed house of appreciative home fans in Cleveland, the Indians lost for the first time since August 23.

Their 22 straight triumphs set an American League record -- surpassing the previous AL mark of 20 straight established by the Oakland Athletics in 2002.

Cleveland surpassed the 21-game streak put together by National League's Chicago Cubs in 1935 -- but came up short in pursuit of the Major League record 26-game winning streak of the 1916 New York Giants.

"Common sense says you're eventually going to lose a game. It was a lot of fun," Indians manager Terry Francona said.

Lorenzo Cain had three hits and Alicides Escobar and Brandon Moss hit home runs for the Royals off Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer.

The Indians' Francisco Lindor struck out with a runner on first with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to end it -- sparking a massive ovation from Cleveland fans in appreciation of the three-week ride.

Indians players and Francona emerged from their dugout and tipped their caps to the crowd.

"They've been so supportive," Francona said of the fans. "The atmosphere here has been incredible. Our players wanted to show their appreciation."

Mike Minor pitched the ninth inning for Kansas City and earned his first career save. He gave up a single to Yandy Diaz to lead off the inning, then struck out Yan Gomes, Francisco Mejia and Lindor.

Lindor was one of the heroes on Thursday when the Indians trailed by one and were down to their last strike in the when he smacked a run-scoring double to send the game to extra innings.

Cleveland went on to win that one 3-2 when Jay Bruce drove in a run in the 10th.

"What they did is utterly amazing. Unfathomable," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "To go over three weeks without losing a game, that's incredible."

Nevertheless, Yost added, "We didn't show up to be part of that streak.

"We had every intention of beating the streak," he said. Our guys played their hearts out.

On Friday, Royals pitchers held Cleveland scoreless on three hits over the last six innings. The Indians had runners at first and second with one out in the seventh, but Trevor Cahill induced Austin Jackson to ground into an inning-ending double play.

- Indians playoff bound -
Lindor led off the bottom of the first with a double to left field and scored on Edwin Encarnacion's fly out.

The Royals pulled the run back in the second when Escobar belted a 2-2 pitch from Bauer over the left field wall.

Cleveland answered with two runs in the third, when Jackson doubled with two outs and scored on Jose Ramirez's homer.

Bauer gave up a home run over to center from Moss to lead off the fourth, and the Royals tied it in the fifth when Eric Hosmer singled in a run.

Kansas City took a 4-3 lead in the sixth, when Cain's single scored Alex Gordon.

"The magnitude of the streak didn't hit me until (Thursday night)," Bauer said. "It was a hell of a run. It's the second 22-game winning streak I've blown. In 2010 at UCLA (university) we won our first 22 games. I pitched the 23rd game and lost. Have someone else pitch for 23."

The Indians are back in action in Cleveland on Saturday, when they again host the Royals. Although the streak is over, the AL Central division leaders have already secured their playoff berth.

"I don't think anything is over," Francona said. "We showed up tonight to win, and we didn't win. To me this is a jumping off point. Where do we go from here? Up."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Royals pitcher Ventura dies in car accident

LOS ANGELES -- Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura died Sunday after a car accident in his native Dominican Republic, the Major League Baseball team confirmed in a statement.

Ventura, 25, a member of the Royals pitching rotation during their 2015 World Series win, died early Sunday, the team said.

No details of the accident were immediately available.

Ventura's death came on the same day that former major league player Andy Marte died in a separate car crash, also in the Dominican Republic, according to a statement by his management company on Twitter.

"Our prayers right now are with Yordano's family as we mourn this young man's passing," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said in a statement.

"He was so young and so talented, full of youthful exuberance and always brought a smile to everyone he interacted with. We will get through this as an organization, but right now is a time to mourn and celebrate the life of Yordano."

Ventura, who made his MLB debut in 2013, enjoyed a break out season in 2014, going 14-10.

He forged a reputation as a power pitcher, hurling a 96.2 miles per hour fastball in 2014, the second fastest in the league. Overall he had a 38-31 record at Major League level.

Team-mates and fellow professionals took to Twitter on Sunday to express their condolences to Ventura.

"I love you Ace. I don't know what to say other then I'm going to miss you a lot," Royals pitcher Mike Moustakas wrote.

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer added: "Tragedy has no bias, people. Please, please be safe out there. Condolences to the Ventura family. #RIP Yordano, loved watching you throw."

Archer's Tampa Bay team-mate David Price lamented the loss of Ventura at the nascent stage of his professional career.

"What terrible news this morning! RIP Yordano. This kid was so talented and was only scratching the surface. Condolences to his family," Archer wrote.

Several players paid joint tribute to Ventura and Marte, 33, who spent nearly a decade in Major League Baseball before signing with the KT Wiz in South Korea for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Marte broke into the Majors in 2005 with the Atlanta Braves before being traded to the Cleveland Indians the following year.

"My heart goes out to the family & friends of #RIPAndyMarte #RIPYordanoVentura...Sad day for the baseball community. They'll be missed," wrote Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton.

The dual fatalities come just four months after the baseball world was left in shock by the boating accident death of Miami Marlins star pitcher Jose Fernandez at the age of 24.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

AL rides early homers to 4-2 win in All-Star Game

Second-inning homers by Kansas City teammates Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez powered the American League to a 4-2 victory over the National League on Tuesday night in the 87th All-Star Game before 42,386 at Petco Park.

The National League was leading 1-0 thanks to a Kris Bryant homer in the first inning when Hosmer tied it with a one-out homer off National League starter Johnny Cueto. Two batters later, Perez connected for a two-run shot off Cueto.

Hosmer, who finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, was named the Most Valuable Player.

Cleveland right-hander Corey Kluber was the winning pitcher and Baltimore left-hander Zach Britton collected the save. Cueto suffered the loss.

The National League stranded 10 runners and left the bases loaded in the eighth when Houston right-hander Will Harris threw a full-count, called third strike past pinch-hitter Aldemys Diaz of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The heavy San Diego influence of the pregame ceremonies carried into the first inning when Bryant, a University of San Diego alum, homered on the first pitch he saw from American League starter Chris Sale in an all-Chicago matchup.

The Cubs third baseman drove the ball 410 feet into the left field stands off the White Sox right-hander.

But the American League retaliated in the bottom of the second against Cueto, taking a 3-1 lead on two homers by members of the reigning World Series champion Royals.

With one out, Hosmer dropped a 389-foot drive into the left field stands to tie the score at 1. Boston outfielder Mookie Betts singled and Royals catcher Eddie Perez hit a 373-foot blast into the left field stands peppered the night before by Home Run Derby champion Giancarlo Stanton.

Hosmer and Perez were the first set of teammates to homer in the same inning since Steve Garvey and Jimmy Wynn of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1975 All-Star Game.

Cole Hamels continued the host city story in the top of the third when the San Diego native struck out Bryant with the tying runs at second and third with two outs.

The American League extended its lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the third against Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins.

Boston designated hitter David Ortiz, who has announced he will retire at the end of the 2016 season, drew a one-out walk and received an ovation from the crowd and hugs from the American League bench when he came out for pinch-runner Edwin Encarnacion of the Blue Jays.

Encarnacion raced to third on a double by Boston's Xander Bogarts and scored on a single by Hosmer, the second RBI by the Royals first baseman. But Betts grounded into a double play to end the threat.

The National League cut the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the fourth. Giants catcher Buster Posey drew a one-out walk from Toronto right-hander Aaron Sanchez and came around on back-to-back singles by Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and Marlins center fielder Marcell Osuna.

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Royals beat Mets, take first title in 30 years

NEW YORK -- Sparked by the most amazing rally yet in a comeback-filled playoff run, the Kansas City Royals captured their first World Series title in 30 years Sunday by defeating the New York Mets 7-2 in 12 innings.

The Royals took Major League Baseball's best-of-seven championship final four games to one after scoring twice in the ninth inning to equalize and breaking open the contest with five runs in the final inning.

Lorenzo Cain scored the Royals' first run in the crucial ninth inning and smacked a three-run double in the 12th that sealed New York's fate, ending the Mets' dream of their first World Series title since 1986.



 Instead, the Royals captured their first crown since 1985 with their record eighth come-from-behind playoff victory, including all four of their World Series triumphs. Seven of them were multi-run rallies to win.

Inspired by a seven-game loss to San Francisco in last year's World Series, the Royals became the first team since the 1989 Oakland A's to win the World Series a year after losing it. They are the first team since the 1961 Yankees to lose in a seventh game and win the title the next year.

Deadlocked 2-2 after nine innings, the game went into the 12th with the title poised on a knife's edge.

Kansas City's Salvador Perez singled down the right-field line off Mets reliever Addison Reed to open the 12th. Pinch-runner Jerrod Dyson replaced Perez and promptly stole second base, taking third when Eric Gordon grounded out to first.

Pinch-hitter Christian Colon then smacked a single to left field to score Dyson and give Kansas City their first lead at 3-2.

Brazilian Paulo Orlando then reached on a fielder's choice that advanced Colon on an error by Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy.

Alcides Escobar then stretched his playoff hit streak to 15 games with a run-scoring double to left and Ben Zobrist was intentionally walked to load the bases, setting the stage for Cain's double to left center field to clear the bases and produce the final margin.

New York's Curtis Granderson hit a leadoff home run in the first inning and scored again after walking in the fourth to give the Mets a 2-0 advantage.

Mets starting pitcher Matt Harvey, a 26-year-old right-hander, baffled the Royals for eight shutout innings, striking out nine while scattering four hits and two walks as only one runner got past first base.

- Comeback kings -

But in the ninth inning, the Royals added to their legend as comeback kings as Cain opened the ninth with a walk and stole second base, allowing him to race home on Eric Hosmer's double to left field and cut the Mets' lead to 2-1.

That prompted Mets manager Terry Collins to remove Harvey in favor of Dominican closing relief ace Jeurys Familia, who promptly surrendered a ground out to first by Mike Moustakas that advanced Hosmer to third base.

Perez then grounded out but Hosmer raced home and scored the tying run as an errant desperation throw home by Lucas Duda was way off target.

Kansas City right-handed pitcher Edinson Volquez, making his first appearance since attending his father Daniel's funeral in their native Dominican Republic, threw well over six innings.

Volquez, who drew his father's initials in the dirt on the back of the pitcher's mound, allowed two runs on two hits and walked five while striking out five.

Volquez was not told of his father's death Tuesday until after he threw six innings in Kansas City's 5-4 victory in the series opener. He was told after he left the game and flew the next day to his homeland, rejoining the team Saturday.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Kansas City Royals one win away from World Series title

The Kansas City Royals are now one win away from becoming World Series champions after a come-from-behind Game 4 victory over the New York Mets.

Royals closer Juris Familia batted a groundball to second base, which slipped past Mets baseman Daniel Murphy and led to a tie game.


Two more hits gave the Royals a two-run lead before Wade Davis came on to lock down the victory.

The 5-3 win moves the Royals closer to their first MLB title since 1985. -- Mornings @ ANC, November 2, 2015.

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Royals rally past Mets to brink of Series crown

NEW YORK -- Salvador Perez and Mike Moustakas singled in the go-ahead runs Saturday during an eighth-inning comeback and the Kansas City Royals beat the New York Mets 5-3 to reach the brink of their first World Series title in 30 years.

The Royals seized a 3-1 lead in Major League Baseball's best-of-seven final and could win their first crown since 1985 with another road victory in game five Sunday.

Kansas City, which lost last year's World Series in seven games to San Francisco, also came from behind to win the first two games of this year's World Series and in all have fought back after trailing in seven of 10 playoff triumphs this year.

The Mets were leading 3-2 in the eighth inning when relief pitcher Tyler Clippard walked Ben Zobrist and Lorenzo Cain, prompting New York manager Terry Collins to insert closing 26-year-old Dominican right-handed relief ace Jeurys Familia.

But Kansas City's Eric Hosmer chopped an infield ground ball that went under the glove of Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy for an error that scored Zobrist to level the score.

Moustakas followed with a single just past a diving Murphy into right field that plated Cain and gave the Royals their first lead of the game at 4-3.

Perez then smacked a single to right, his third hit of the game, to score Hosmer from third to stretch the Kansas City edge.

Royals closer Wade Davis shut down the Mets in the eighth but allowed Murphy and Yoenis Cespedes singles in the ninth as the tension built.

But New York's Lucas Duda flew out to third baseman Moustakas, who quickly flipped the ball to first base to pick off Cespedes and complete a game-ending double play.

A crowd of 44,815 comprised mostly of Mets supporters was stunned by a Halloween nightmare for their team which had been only five outs from pulling level in the World Series.

New York's Michael Conforto, a 22-year-old US leftfielder batting only 2-for-22 in the playoffs, blasted leadoff homers in the third and fifth innings to power the Mets to their 3-2 lead. Hitting only 1-for-7 over the first three games, he became the first rookie since Atlanta's Andruw Jones in 1996 with a multi-homer World Series contest.

The Mets, who have not won the World Series since 1986, also scored in the third when Wilmer Flores singled, took second on a wild pitch from Royals starter Chris Young and scored on sacrifice fly outs by pitcher Steven Matz and Curtis Granderson, the latter withstanding a video replay challenge that Flores left the bag before the catch -- a reversal would have erased the run and ended the inning.

In the fifth, Perez doubled as onrushing Mets outfielder Cespedes accidentally kicked the ball away and allowed Perez to gain an extra base. Alex Gordon followed with a single to the rightfield wall that plated Perez and pulled the Royals within 2-1.

Pinch-hitter Kendrys Morales singled to advance Gordon but Alcides Escobar flew out to end the inning. Escobar had stretched his one-season playoff hit streak to a record-tying 14 games with a game-opening single.

Conforto blasted his second homer to begin the fifth inning off reliever Danny Duffy for a 3-1 Mets lead. But again the Royals responded.

Zobrist matched a major league playoff record with his eighth playoff double to start the sixth inning and Cain scored him with a single to pull Kansas City within 3-2.

Potential tying run Cain stole second base and reached third on a throwing error by 42-year-old Dominican reliever Bartolo Colon, who redeemed himself by striking out Perez to end the inning.

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Royals rip Mets to stretch World Series edge

KANSAS CITY -- Kansas City pitcher Johnny Cueto allowed only one run on two hits over nine innings and the Royals routed the New York Mets 7-1 Wednesday to seize command of the World Series.

The 29-year-old dreadlocked Dominican held a New York lineup that had belted at least one home run in 10 consecutive playoff games to the fewest hits in a playoff game in Mets history.

Royals batters hammered New York starter Jacob deGrom for four runs on five hits in the fifth inning for all the support Cueto needed in a complete game victory.

Kansas City grabbed a 2-0 lead in Major League Baseball's best-of-seven final, which shifts to New York for games three and four on Friday and Saturday.

The Royals won their only World Series title 30 years ago while the Mets last captured the crown in 1986. Teams falling behind 0-2 in the World Series lose 79 percent of the time and have been beaten in 15 of the past 16 such situations.

The Mets had not managed fewer than three hits in any prior playoff game, a record low last reached earlier this month in game four of their playoff series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Cueto and long-haired Mets right-hander deGrom dominated early but the Mets jumped ahead in the fourth inning.

Daniel Murphy walked and Yeonis Cespedes advanced him on a fielder's choice. Umpire Mike Winters ruled Kansas City first baseman Eric Hosmer was pulled off the bag catching the throw from third base, and Royals manager Ned Yost declined to make a video replay challenge.

New York's Lucas Duda followed with a single that scored Murphy to put the Mets ahead 1-0. It was the last hit Cueto would allow.

- Four-run fifth -

Kansas City responded by breaking open the game in the fifth as deGrom became the first Mets starter since September 22 to surrender more than three runs. He was only tagged for four or more runs six times in 30 regular-season starts.

Alex Gordon walked, took second base on an Alex Rios single and scored on Alcides Escobar's single to pull Kansas City level.

After Ben Zobrist advanced the runners on a ground out to first, Hosmer smacked a single up the middle to score them both and put the Royals ahead to stay. Hosmer took third when Kendrys Morales singled and scored on a Mike Moustakas single for a 4-1 Kansas City edge.

From there, Cueto continued to baffle the Mets. He has allowed only two earned runs over his past 20 innings in home playoff games and would pitch a game six if needed in the Royals ballpark.

Kansas city added insurance runs off three Mets relievers in the eighth inning. Moustakas singled, took third on a Salvador Perez double and scored on a Gordon double.

Paulo Orlando, the first Brazilian in the World Series, scored Perez with a sacrifice fly and Escobar tripled to the centerfield wall to score Gordon with the final run.

Fans chanted Cueto's name as he retired the final Mets batters in the ninth to close out his impressive 122-pitch performance.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Royals outlast Mets in World Series thriller

KANSAS CITY -- Unflinching despite on-field setbacks and off-field heartbreak, the Kansas City Royals outlasted the New York Mets, 5-4, in 14 innings Tuesday to win game one of the 111th World Series.

Eric Hosmer drove in Alcides Escobar with a sacrifice fly to give the Royals an emotional victory in a thriller that matched the longest game by innings in the history of Major League Baseball's best-of-seven final.

"To grind through that game and win it in the 14th inning was big," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Two things you don't want in game one of the World Series -- one is to go 14 innings and the other is to lose."

The intense match-up lasted five hours and nine minutes, the longest World Series opener by time or innings, and featured Escobar leading off with the first inside the park World Series home run in 86 years.


 But much of the joy was stolen from the achievement as players learned of the death of Royals starting pitcher Edinson Volquez's father just hours earlier -- the third Royals player parent to die in the past three months.

"I found out right before we won. In the locker room, during the celebration, we all talked about it," Royals slugger Alex Gordon said. "That's tough. But we're a family and we rallied around him and picked him up and hopefully everything is OK."

Volquez's 63-year-old father Daniel died of heart disease before the game in their native Dominican Republic. Volquez's wife asked that her husband not be told until he was out of the game, according to a Royals spokesman, and Volquez departed before the game ended.

The Royals lost pitcher Chris Young's father Charles to cancer last month and third baseman Mike Moustakas' mother Connie died of cancer in August.

Hosmer redeems error

Juan Lagares gave New York a 4-3 lead in the eighth, scoring from second base on a fielding error by first baseman Hosmer.

But the drama stretched to extra innings when Gordon blasted a one-out homer over the centerfield wall in the ninth inning, the latest tying homer in a Series game since 2001. It came off Mets closing relief ace Jeurys Familia, his first blown save opportunity since July 30.

"He doesn't give up home runs so we were all shocked by it. We liked where we were at," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "We've got to put them away. We've got to do a better job. In the same situation, he'll be back out there."

Kansas City's Paulo Orlando, the first Brazilian player in World Series history, reached third with the bases loaded in the 12th but could not score and missed a chance to be the hero again in the 13th, grounding out to end the inning with a runner in scoring position.

The tension finally ended when Escobar reached first on a throwing error by Mets third baseman David Wright, took third on Ben Zobrist's single and scored the winning run on Hosmer's fly out to right field.

"Obviously I wanted to redeem myself for what happened earlier," Hosmer said. "I can't thank my teammates enough for picking me up and giving me another opportunity."

Young, the Royals' scheduled game four starter, hurled three shutout innings of relief but his status for Saturday is now uncertain.

Kansas City hosts game two Wednesday in the best-of-seven final before it shifts to New York. The Royals won their only World Series in 1985. The Mets last captured the crown in 1986.

Escobar's rare feat

The game matched the innings record set by legend Babe Ruth's complete-game victory for Boston over Brooklyn in game two of the 1916 World Series and matched in the Chicago White Sox's 7-5 triumph at Houston in game three in 2005.

Venezuela's Escobar smashed the first pitch by Mets starter Matt Harvey, a 95-mph fastball, for an inside the park home run, only the 12th in World Series history.

It was the first World Series inside the park homer since George "Mule" Haas hit one for the Philadelphia A's in game four of the 1929 World Series and the first inside the park leadoff homer since Boston's Patsy Dougherty in game two of the first World Series in 1903.

"Certainly to start the game like that on the first pitch was a little bit stunning," Collins said.

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SF Giants close out Royals to win World Series

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- The San Francisco Giants beat the Kansas City Royals, 3-2, on Wednesday behind a stunning performance by Madison Bumgarner to win their third World Series title in five Major League Baseball seasons.

With the win, the Giants completed a 4-3 series win over the Royals in the best-of-seven championship, adding a third title to their brilliant every-other-year pattern of post-season success dating back to 2010.

Michael Morse drove in a pair of runs and ace Bumgarner, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the World Series, came out of the bullpen to carry the Giants to victory with five innings of scoreless relief for his third win of the championship round.

"I was just thinking about getting outs until I couldn't get them anymore," said Bumgarner. "Fortunately I was able to get some quick innings and I was able to stay in there.

"Right now I'm not tired at all. We just won the World Series it's hard to be tired right now."

A raucous Kauffman Stadium and history were in the Kansas City corner ahead of the game as the home team had won the last nine World Series that went to a Game Seven, including the 1985 Royals.

But the Giants, who were hammered 10-0 Tuesday's Game Six, bounced back to become the first road team to win a World Series Game Seven since the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates.

San Francisco drew first blood, loading the bases in the top of the second and pushing across a pair of runs on sacrifice flies from Morse and Brandon Crawford.

The Royals answered back in the bottom of second, Billy Butler hammering a leadoff single and racing home on Alex Gordon's line drive double to the wall in right-centre.

With the capacity crowd on their feet Omar Infante kept the celebrations going with a sacrifice fly to cash in Gordon and tie the contest at 2-2.

A single by Alcides Escobar marked the end of a short night's work for Giants starter Tim Hudson.

Hudson, at 39 the oldest pitcher to start a World Series Game Seven, lasted surrendering two runs on three hits in 1-2/3 innings before manager Bruce Bochy made the call to the bullpen for Jeremy Affeldt.

The San Francisco bats were buzzing again in the fourth with Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence leading off with singles before Morse drove in his second run of the night on broken bat line drive to right field.

With Bumgarner on the hill the one run cushion is all the Giants would need to clinch the crown.

The Royals, however, threatened in the bottom of the ninth with two outs when Alex Gordon lined a shot into centre and reached third base on a two-base error by Gregor Blanco.

But Bumgarner would not be denied, getting Salvador Perez to pop out to third baseman Pablo Sandoval in foul territory for the final out.

"He kept telling me 'I'm ready to go,' he said just put me in anytime and it couldn't have worked out better," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said about Bumgarner.

"The plan was to use Jeremy (Affeldt) early and hope we get to the fifth inning and a horse was out there and we rode him and it's historic what this kid has done.

"Really truly amazing."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Royals rout Giants, send World Series to Game Seven

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- The Kansas City Royals awoke from their hitting slumber in a 10-0 thrashing of the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday to stave off elimination and force the World Series to a decisive seventh game.



After a 162-game regular season and three rounds of postseason action, the Major League Baseball championship will come down to one game with the Giants chasing a third title in five years and the never-say-die Royals looking to end a 29-year championship drought.

The Royals entered the contest trailing the best-of-seven series 3-2 and having not scored a run in 15 innings.

But Kansas City batters rediscovered their groove in the second inning of Game Six when they exploded for seven runs on eight hits to chase Giants starter Jake Peavy after just 1-1/3 innings and set the stage for a comprehensive rout.

"Guys stepped up in a big way tonight. We felt we just had to get it done, find any way possible to get on base and drive in runs," said Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain, who contributed a pair of hits and three RBI to the Kansas cause.

Game Seven is Wednesday in Kansas City.

Before the end of the third inning every member of the Royals starting lineup had at least one hit, Mike Moustakas leading the hit parade with a double and a home run.

In contrast, San Francisco bats went quiet with inspired Royals rookie Yordano Ventura pitching seven shutout innings.

The 23-year-old Dominican fireballer, sporting hand-written tributes on his cap, glove and shoes in tribute to compatriot Oscar Taveras, the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder who was killed in car accident on Sunday, was brilliant allowing just three hits while striking out four with five walks.

"I don't really know what more to say. I mean you got a 23-year-old kid in the biggest game this stadium has seen in 29 years and our backs against the wall and he goes out there in complete command of his emotions ... and throws seven shutout innings," Royals manager Ned Yost told reporters.

"We talked all along about how special he is. This just shows, you can't get in a bigger stage then he was on tonight and to perform the way that he did tonight was just special."

Moustakas sparked the second inning burst with a sharply hit double down the right field line that cashed in Alex Gordon with the game's first run.

With the bases loaded Nori Aoki singled to left driving in a second run to bring Peavy's night to a quick end, the right-hander surrendering five runs on six hits.

The pitching change did nothing to slow down the rampaging Royals, Cain welcoming Yusmeiro Petit to the game with a bases-loaded looper to centre field that scored two more runs.

Eric Hosmer added to the assault with a two-run double before Billy Butler capped off the big inning with an RBI double to whip the capacity crowd into a frenzy.

The Giants looked poised to hit back in the third after loading the bases only to watch Buster Posey hit into double play to end the threat.

The Royals, however, were far from done, Cain adding an RBI double in the bottom of the third and Alcides Escobar cracking another run scoring double in the fifth followed a by Moustakas solo home run in the seventh.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Royals return home for last shot at fairytale ending

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - The World Series heads back to Kansas City for another helping of baseball American League style and the Royals hope that familiarity will revive their Cinderella story.

The Royals, who opened their first postseason appearance in 29 years with a record eight consecutive wins, are now one loss away from elimination in the best-of-seven championship against the San Francisco Giants.

But Tuesday's Game Six and, if necessary, Wednesday's Game Seven, will be at Kauffman Stadium in front of success-starved Royals fans with designated hitter (DH) Billy Butler back in the lineup to beef up the attack.

Since taking a 4-1 lead in the third inning of Saturday's Game Four, the Royals have been outscored 15-0 over the next 15 innings and are in dire need of an offensive spark.

Butler had only one at-bat, as a pinch hitter, in the three games played under National League rules, which prohibit the use of a DH, in San Francisco.

"Any time you can get Billy back in the lineup it's huge for us," said Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas. "He's a great hitter and brings a lot to the table for us."

First baseman Eric Hosmer said the home effect he believed had helped the Giants win the last two games of the series would now swing to the Royals' favor.

"They give us a lot of energy," Hosmer said about the Royals fans. "We feed off of them back home."

Beyond the masterful Madison Bumgarner, who has won two games in this series, San Francisco has been sparked by two of their most dynamic hitters and personalities.

Hunter Pence has batted a blistering .474 with six runs scored and five RBIs.

Pablo Sandoval, who required an IV before Game Four after being hit with nausea from a stomach flu, had a key hit in that win, a two-out, two-run single that put the Giants ahead for good.

"He's right up there with some of the great players I've had, the great talents," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of the beefy third baseman, who is nicknamed "Panda."

"I think good players, great players have a way of rising to the occasion, and he's one of those players.

Pence has been an all-round threat, making outstanding plays in the field as well as in the batter's box.

"Once we got him, he was every bit what I thought he was, a guy that came out to play every day, 100 percent in everything he does," Bochy said. "That's why we call him 'Full Throttle.'"

Despite only one really tight game following a postseason full of nailbiters, this series has been entertaining for its likeable personalities, emphasis on fundamental baseball and outstanding glove work.

"Our two teams have grinded the whole year, we've battled," said Hosmer. "It's always fun when you're competing against guys who have proven themselves and have multiple championships.

"So it's a blast coming into this park and coming into this environment with the fans, and how much energy they have here and seeing all the orange out there. It's the same way in Kansas City. So it's been a fun experience."

The Royals, like the Giants, come through as a close-knit team. Many of the players have come up together through the minor leagues.

"It's a tough grind to get to this level," Hosmer said. "I remember when (All Star catcher) Salvador Perez got sent down to rookie ball and we were in low-A, and it seems like a blink of an eye, and we're in the World Series together."

"It's really special. Our families have gotten really close with each other. It's one giant family now."

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Damon: Jacoby Ellsbury is a 'game-changer'

Johnny Damon knows Jacoby Ellsbury and knows all about being a centerfielder who leaves the Red Sox to sign with the Yankees.

Damon did it before the 2006 season, signing a four-year, $52-million deal to join the Yankees. That contract looks paltry now compared with the seven-year, $153-million deal Ellsbury and the Yankees have agreed to, according to a source.

Damon won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2004 and the Yankees in 2009. He thinks adding Ellsbury -- a World Series champion with Boston in 2007 and this past season -- will help the Yankees mightily in their quest for another title.

"I think it's a great signing for the Yankees and a great signing for Jacoby," Damon said Wednesday morning in a telephone interview. "He's a real game-changer. He's had some injuries and that could be an issue, but there's no doubt he's going to help New York."

What about moving from Boston to The Bronx?

Damon, once a beloved, scraggily-haired member of the 2004 "Idiots", was vilified whenever he returned to Fenway Park as a Yankee.

"I think he'll hear some cheers and some boos," Damon said of Ellsbury. "Some people are going to forget what he did there, but he'll be able to handle it. Maybe the Red Sox could have come up [in their contract offer] if they wanted him to stay. Jacoby did better than me in Boston -- he won two World Series and I only won one."

Damon marveled at the money Ellsbury was able to get. It's the third biggest deal for an outfielder in MLB history, behind the eight-year, $160-million deals received by Manny Ramirez (Boston) and Matt Kemp (Dodgers).

"Sets a new level for centerfielders," Damon said. "Kenny Lofton set a new level for me and then I set a new level for Jacoby. It's great for centerfielders and it's great for baseball."

But will it be great for the 30-year-old Ellsbury? Damon thinks it will be.

"He's a baseball player," Damon said. "I think he'll love playing in New York."

In seven MLB seasons, Ellsbury has a .297 batting average, a .350 on-base percentage and 241 stolen bases.

source: newsday.com