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| Butler proved to be the hero for KC. Photo Credit: Peter Aiken/USA Today Sports |
Billy Butler drove in what would be the go ahead run for the Royals in the sixth inning and that would be enough for Kansas City as they defeated Baltimore 2-1 tonight at Kauffman Stadium.
By: Michael Hanley
This win has gotten Kansas City to within one game of reaching the World Series for the first time since 1985. It continues what has been a fairy tale like run by this franchise that has been starved for a winner for 29 years. They have yet to drop a game this postseason as they have won all seven games they have played in this run.
The rock solid bullpen that has been the Royals strength of season long once again shined in tonight's game after being handed that 2-1 lead as they began work in the 6th inning. They combined to throw four scoreless innings, including not allowing even one hit to the Orioles.
In this type of pressure game, on home field with a chance to grab a commanding lead in the ALCS, they pitched free and easy with no signs of getting tight or rattled by the big moment in front of them. It has been that type of poise and command that has been a huge catalyst as to why Kansas City has made this tremendous run to one game within getting to the World Series.
The game was a very tightly contested game throughout the night as both teams dug in with fine pitching and defense, hallmarks of both teams and have rode to this series. The game was all squared at one until the Orioles starter Wei-Yin Chen put runner son the corners for the Royals.
This presented an opportunity that Kansas City has been so good at in this postseason: getting productive at bats with runners in scoring position.Once again they would come through as Billy Butler came up and hit a deep enough fly ball,off of Baltimore reliever Kevin Gausman, to get the run home from third and put his team up 2-1.
The winning pitcher ended up being Jason Frasor (2-0) for Kansas City while Greg Holland got the save (5) Meanwhile for Baltimore, Chen (0-1) wound up taking the loss after a solid outing, but not one that was able to match KC starter Jeremy Guthrie.
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