Sunday, January 6, 2019

Royals (13) upset A's (4) in 4



\Game 1 of the series between the Oakland Athletics and the Kansas City Royals went much like expected. Sean Manaea faced off against the Jacob Junis. The A's scored twice in the bottom of the second on a single by Khris Davis and a two run home run by Steven Piscotty putting the A's on top 2-0. Sean Manea pitched a great game only giving up one run on a solo shot by Adalberto Mondesi in the fourth inning. The A's tacked on an additional run in the bottom of the seventh off Kevin McCarthy, when he allowed a double by Matt Olson, a single by Piscotty and then a sacrifice fly by Nick Martini. The Royals scrambled in the bottom of the ninth off Blake Treinen when John Jay led off getting hit by a pitch, two fielders choice and an infield single by Mike Moustakas put the Royals within one, but they could manage no more. A's - 3  Royals - 2

The second game of the series pitted Brad Keller against Trevor Cahill. Kansas City scored in the top of the first on a walk, a single and a sacrifice fly to put them up 1-0. The Royals added two more in the top of the third with a Mondesi single, Jorge Soler walked and Alex Gordon doubled to right center scoring Mondesi. John Jay then singled to right center scoring Soler. Gordon tried to score from second as well but was gunned down by Mark Canha. The score remained 3-0 until the top of the seventh when Mondesi led off with a reviewed infield single, he promptly stole second base. Ryan O'Hearn then stepped up and sent a blast down the right field line barely clearing the fence, for a two run shot. Keller left after 8 innings of 2 hit shutout baseball. Herrera mopped up the ninth after Scott Barlow gave up two hits, one of them a four bagger to Franklin Barreto. Royals - 5 A's - 1

For game three, Kansas City got to host the series, Danny Duffy taking the hill for the home crowd and Erwin




Jackson hurling for Oakland. It was a tough game for the hitters as Duffy only gave up two hits and one run, however Jackson was a bit better allowing two hits but nothing crossing home plate. In the seventh, Oakland went to their bullpen and asked Lou Trevino to keep the game in check. The Royals were prepared, with one out Lucas Duda punched a home run over the right field wall to tie the score. Oakland wanting to take no chances reached into the bullpen once more and pulled out Ryan Buchter to try and close the door. However, Soler turned on the left handers fastball to blast one over the left field wall. Gordon then struck out but Jay singled up the middle. The A's gave the hook to Buchter and brought in Emilio Pagan, who gave up an infield single before striking out Moustakas.  McCarthy took the mound for the home team but he gave up a lead off single followed by a hard smash force out. KC summoned Wily Peralta to the mound. He was greeted by a three bagger by Marcus Siemen tying the score 2-2. It remained tied until the bottom of the twelfth. Both teams had counted on their bullpens and Oakland needed three more outs from Shawn Kelley. He walked the first man of the inning. The manager decided enough and he went to Chris Bassitt, on the second pitch Moustakas stunned the stadium by stealing second base. Meibrys Viloria then walked. Oakland gave the nod to Brett Anderson facing pinch hitter Alcides Escobar who promptly lined a single into left center field, bases loaded , one out. Oakland again went to the pen. Daniel Mengden ended the affair when he put a fast ball into Whit Merrifield's wheelhouse for a deep fly to center field scoring the  winner. KC - 3  Oakland - 2




The KC fans were ecstatic to think they might be able to pull off an upset, and perhaps Oakland was feeling the same.  The went to their game one starter Sean Manea to get them to game 5. The Royals put Heath Fillmyer on the mound and asked him to just keep it close. Manea had been fantasic in game one and the Kansas City are was full of concern. On this day, Manaea was not the overpowering pitcher he was in game one. He allowed solo home runs to both Jorge Soler (third inning) and Adalberto Mondesi (fifth). Fillmyer gave up five hits and two runs in his six and one third innings, a bit better than Manaea's three runs in five innings.  Oakland scored first in the third off a homer by Marcus Semien, and they tallied another score in the fifth when Martini walked, was wild pitched to second and then scored on a two single by Ramon Laureano. The Royals had pushed across a run in the fourth on a lead off single by Cheslor Cuthbert, a walk to Hunter Dozier a fielders choice moving them both up a base. Soler was then intentionally walked loading the bases with two outs. Alex Gordon then took one in the ribs for the team, forcing across Cuthbert.  The Royals, Salvador Perez then homered in the bottom of the eighth to finish the game scoring. KC - 4  Oakland -2 .  Kansas City went wild!!!!!!!!!

--submitted by Orion Bell--

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