 |
| Moustakas was the hero for KC in Anaheim. Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski |
The first full day of LDS play was here and once again the Royals stole the show with their heroics they pulled off in the 11th inning out in Anaheim. Meanwhile, the Orioles took care of business at home.
By: Michael Hanley
Game 1: Orioles 12, Tigers 3
The Orioles turned this game into a laugher when they erupted for eight runs in the 8th inning to blow this game wide open and coast to victory and take the opener of this best of five ALDS match up against Detroit.
Nelson Cruz and J.J Hardy both hit a home run, while Jonathan Schoop and Alejandro De Aza each contributed two hits and two RBIs as well to help overpower Tigers starter Max Scherzer (0-1). The Tigers starter had trouble finding the strike zone at times and made numerous mistake pitches that were left over the plate for the Orioles hitters to tee off on. He wound up with going 7 1/3 inning, allowing five runs on seven hits, including the two home runs.
The Tigers offense was punch less for most of the game as Baltimore starter Chris Tillman (1-0) tossed five innings, allowing only two runs on two hit sin five effective innings of work. The bullpen would take them the rest of the way as Andrew Miller and Darren O'Day came in and did their jobs efficiently, sniffing out nay potential rally by the Tigers.
The Tigers bullpen, a big question mark in terms of effectiveness, only added more questions as they struggled mightily against this potent Orioles lineup. They ended up giving up a astonishing six runs in only 2/3 inning of work from Joba Chamberlain, Joakim Soria and Phil Coke. It leaves Detroit searching for answers as to who to go to late in games from their bullpen.
Game 2 features Justin Verlander (15-12, 4.54 ERA) for the Tigers up against Wei-Yin Chen (16-6, 3.54 ERA) of the Orioles.
Game 2: Royals 3, Angels 2 (11 Innings)
Some more of that Royals extra inning magic made its way from Kauffman Stadium in KC to The Big A in Anaheim as Mike Moustakas hit a solo home run off of Angel's reliever Fernando Salas (0-1) in the 11th inning to give the Royals a 3-2 lead that they would hold onto and beat the Angels in Game 1 of their ALDS match up.
This was an offense that had not shown many signs of life through the entirety of the game. As that 11th inning started, they had only generated two base runners since the 5th inning. This was one of the lone bright spots offensively for Kansas City outside of Escobar's RBI double in the third inning and Omar Infante's sacrifice fly, which netted the Royals their second run of the game.
Thanks to their stellar pitching from their starer Jason Vargas and the bullpen , they were able to overcome a rough night for the most part at the plate.Danny Duffy (1-0) ended up getting the win for KC.
As for the Angels it was frustrating night especially when it came to their powerful and lethal lineup, which did not resemble the one that was clicking on all cylinders entering the postseason. Outside of two home runs, one by Chris Iannetta and David Freese, Los Angeles stranded eight runners on base in total during the first five innings of this game.
Almost hard to believe especially when Albert Pujols and Mike Trout are in the heart of that lineup. Both finished a very disappointing 0 for 4 on the night, one where the stage was set for them to have a potential big game for themselves and the team,
Game 2 will feture Matt Shoemaker (16-4, 3.04 ERA) going for the Angels against Yordano Ventura (14-10, 3,20 ERA)
Follow me on Twitter: @Magic20099
