WP: Jason Frasor, LP: Wei-Yin Chen, SV: Greg Holland
Kansas City Royals up 3-0 in the series over the Baltimore Orioles.
Kansas City Royals defeat Baltimore Orioles 2-1 in Game 3 ALCS.
GAME OVER!
Top 9th (2 Outs)- Steve Pierce grounds out to second base on the 0-1 pitch. 3 outs.
Top 9th (1 Out)- Nelson Cruz flies out to right field in foul territory, Lorenzo Cain made the nice catch. 2 outs.
Top 9th (0 Outs)- Adam Jones pops up the first pitch to second base. 1 out.
RHP Greg Holland replaces RHP Wade Davis on the mound.
END OF 8TH INNING
RHP Kevin Gausman went 2 2/3 innings out of the bullpen for Baltimore.
Bot 8th (2 Outs)- Lorenzo Cain jumps on the first pitch and lines out to center fielder Adam Jones. 3 outs.
Bot 8th (1 Out)- Kevin Gausman gets ahead in the count to Jarrod Dyson 0-2. After the count went 1-2 with some pitches fouled off, Kevin Gausman strikes out Dyson looking. 2 outs.
Bot 8th (0 Outs)- Alcides Escobar flies out softly to first base. 1 out.
MIDDLE OF 8TH INNING
Top 8th (2 Outs)- Wade Davis gets ahead of Alejandro De Aza 0-2. De Aza ends up grounding out to first base. 3 outs.
Top 8th (1 Out)- Nick Markakis hits a soft fly ball to left field. Alex Gordon makes a nice diving catch to secure the out. 2 outs.
Top 8th (0 Outs)- Wade Davis falls behind Jonathan Schoop 2-0. Davis comes back to stike out Schoop with a breaking ball in the dirt. 1 out.
RHP Wade Davis replaces RHP Kelvin Herrera on the mound.
END OF 7TH INNING
Bot 7th (2 Outs)- Mike Moustakas gets ahead in the count 3-1. Kevin Gausman gets Moustakas to ground out to first base. 3 outs.
Bot 7th (1 Out)- Omar Infante ground out to shortsop on the 0-2 pitch. 2 outs.
Bot 7th (0 Outs)- Salvador Perez grounds out on a 2-2 pitch to third base. 1 out.
MIDDLE OF 7TH INNING
Top 7th (2 Outs)- Nick Hundley works the count full 3-2. Kelvin Herrera strikes out Hundley on the seventh pitch of the at-bat on a 98 MPH fastball. 3 outs
Top 7th (1 Out)- Ryan Flaherty strikes out on three pitches. All were fastballs clocked at 99 MPH. 2 outs.
Top 7th (0 Outs)- J.J. Hardy grounds out to second base on the 2-1 pitch. 1 out.
Jarrod Dyson stays in the game and moves to center field. Lorenzo Cain moves to right field.
RHP Kelvin Herrera replaces RHP Jason Frasor on the mound.
END OF 6TH INNING
Bot 6th (2 Outs)- Alex Gordon works the count full 3-2. Gordon smacks the 3-2 pitch to short, J.J. Hardy makes the nice backhand and gets the out at first. 3 outs.
Bot 6th (1 Out)- Billy Butler drives the 0-1 pitch to left field for the sacrifice fly. Dyson scores, Hosmer still at first. 2 outs.
Wei-Yin Chen's final line: 5 1/3 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 SO. 80 pitches, 53 were thrown for strikes.
RHP Kevin Gausman replaces LHP Wei-Yin Chen on the mound.
Bot 6th (1 Out)- Eric Hosmer jumps all over the 1-0 pitch for a single to right field. Jarrod Dyson advances to third base. Runners at 1st and 3rd, 1 out. Buck Showalter takes out Wei-Yin Chen.
Bot 6th (0 Outs)- Lorenzo Cain falls behind in the count 0-2. Wei-Yin Chen strikes out Cain on a fastball up in the zone. 1 out.
Jarrod Dyson comes in to pinch run for Nori Aoki.
Bot 6th (0 Outs)- Nori Aoki singles on the first pitch to leadoff the inning.
MIDDLE OF 6TH INNING
Top 6th (2 Outs)- Steve Pierce flies out to center field on a 1-2 pitch. 3 outs.
Top 6th (1 Out)- Nelson Cruz flies out to right field on a 2-2 pitch. 2 outs.
Top 6th (0 Outs)- What a catch by Mike Moustakas!!! Moustakas makes a diving catch into the stands to rob Adam Jones. 1 out.
Jeremy Guthrie's final line: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 SOs. 94 pitches, 63 for strikes.
RHP Jason Frasor replaces RHP Jeremy Guthrie on the mound.
END OF 5TH INNING
Bot 5th (2 Outs)- Alcides Escobar singles on a dribbler to third. Wei-Yin Chen throws it past the first baseman Steve Pierce. Escobar is thrown out at second base, trying to advance, by Jonathan Schoop. 3 outs.
Bot 5th (1 Out)- Mike Moustakas strikes out looking. 2 outs.
Bot 5th (0 Outs)- Omar Infante strikes out swinging. 1 out.
MIDDLE OF 5TH INNING
Top 5th (2 Outs)- Jeremy Guthrie once again falls behind in the count 2-0 to De Aza. However, De Aza grounded out to second base on the very next pitch. 3 outs.
Top 5th (1 Out)- Jeremy Guthrie falls behind Nick Markakis 2-0. Guthrie bounces back to even the count 2-2. Markakis ends up poping up to the catcher. 2 outs.
Top 5th (0 Outs)- Jonathan Schoop pops up to third base on a 1-1 pitch. 1 out.
END OF 4TH INNING
Wei-Yin Chen has thrown 59 pitches through 4 innings of work.
Bot 4th (2 Outs)- Salvador Perez swings at the first pitch and pops up to first base to end the threat. 3 outs.
Bot 4th (1 Out)- Alex Gordon hits a weak grounder to second base. Lorenzo Cain scores from third base to tie the game. 2 outs.
Bot 4th (1 Out)- After a first pitch strike, Billy Butler works a walk to load the bases.
Bot 4th (1 Out)- Eric Hosmer follows with a bloop single of his own to center field. Runners at 1st and 2nd, 1 out.
Bot 4th (1 Out)- Lorenzo Cain muscles a ball to left field for a single. Cain has two hits on the night. Runner at 1st, 1 out.
Bot 4th (0 Outs)- Nori Aoki gets ahead in the count 3-0. Wei-Yin Chen gets Aoki to ground out to second base on a 3-1 count. 1 out.
MIDDLE OF 4TH INNING
Jeremy Guthrie has thrown 83 pitches through 4 innings of work.
Top 4th (2 Outs)- Nick Hundley gets behind in the count 1-2. Jeremy Guthrie struck out Hundley on a breaking ball in the dirt. 3 outs.
Top 4th (2 Outs)- Guthrie again works a 3-2 count to Flaherty. Flaherty walks on the seventh pitch of the at-bat. Runner at 1st, 2 outs.
Top 4th (1 Out)- J.J. Hardy works a 2-2 count after fouling off several pitches. After working the count full 3-2 Hardy grounds out to third base. Hardy battled Guthrie for 14 pitches. 2 outs.
Top 4th (0 Outs)- Steve Pierce lines a 2-2 pitch to third base where Mike Moustakas was there to make a diving catch. 1 out.
END OF 3RD INNING
Bot 3rd (2 Outs)- Alcides Escobar flies out to right field on a 2-2 pitch. 3 outs.
Bot 3rd (0 Outs)- Mike Moustakas grounded into a double play on a 2-1 pitch. 2 outs.
Bot 3rd (0 Outs)- Omar Infante fouls off several pitches and gets behind in the count 1-2. Infante works the count to 3-2 and ends up reaching base on a single to left field. It was a 10 pitch at-bat.
MIDDLE OF 3RD INNING
Top 3rd (2 Outs)- Nelson Cruz grounds out to third base on a 1-1 pitch. Markakis is stranded at first. 3 outs.
Top 3rd (1 Out)- Adam Jones stays agressive and gets behind in the count 0-2. Jones ends up flying out to right field. 2 outs.
Top 3rd (0 Outs)- Jeremy Guthrie gets ahead of De Aza 0-2. De Aza grounds out to first base. Hosmer tags first but cant get Markakis, Markakis hustles back to first to avoid the double play. Runner at 1st, 1 out.
Top 3rd (0 Outs)- Nick Markakis hits a bloop single to left field on a 2-2 pitch to leadoff the inning. 1 on, 0 out.
END OF 2ND INNING
Bot 2nd (2 Outs)- Salvador Perez shatters his bat on a 1-1 pitch and grounds out to shortstop. 3 outs.
Bot 2nd (1 Out)- Alex Gordon works a 2-1 count. Chen struck out Gordon on two straight breaking balls. 2 outs.
Bot 2nd (0 Outs)- Wei-Yin Chen gets ahead of Billy Butler 0-2. Butler puts a charge in one to center field but Adam Jones was there to haul it in. 1 out.
MIDDLE OF 2ND INNING
Top 2nd (2 Outs)- Jonathan Schoop gets ahead in the count 2-1. The count runs full 3-2 before Schoop pops up to first base. 3 outs.
Top 2nd (1 Out)- Nick Hundley flies out to right field. J.J. Hardy tags up and goes to third. Runners at 1st and 3rd, 2 outs.
Top 2nd (1 Out)- Jeremy Guthrie walks Ryan Flaherty on four pitches. Runners at 1st and 2nd, 1 out.
Top 2nd (1 Out)- J.J. Hardy smashes a 1-1 pitch to the opposite field for an RBI double. Runner at 2nd, 1 out.
Top 2nd (1 Out)- Steve Pierce drilled an 0-1 curveball to left center for a double. Runner at 2nd, 1 out.
Top 2nd (0 Outs)- Nelson Cruz gets ahead in the count 2-1. Cruz fouls off several pitches before he grounded out to first base on a 2-2 pitch. Eric Hosmer made a nice diving grab and hustled to make the out. 1 out.
END OF 1ST INNING
Bot 1st (2 Outs)- Eric Hosmer grounds out to second base on a 1-1 pitch. 3 outs.
Bot 1st (2 Outs)- Lorenzo Cain swings at the first pitch and reaches on an infield single. 1 on 2 outs.
Bot 1st (1 Out)- Nori Aoki gets ahead in the count 3-0. Chen bounces back to get the count full 3-2. Aoki grounds out to second base. 2 outs.
Bot 1st (0 Outs)- Wei-Yin Chen gets ahead of Alcides Escobar 0-2 before Escobar flies out to right field. 1 out.
MIDDLE OF THE 1ST INNING
Top 1st (2 Outs)- Guthrie again gets ahead in the count 0-2, this time to Adam Jones. Strikes him out swinging on a breaking ball away in the dirt. 3 outs.
Top 1st (2 Outs)- Injury delay. Salvador Perez hit with a back swing. Stays in the game at catcher.
Top 1st (1 Out)- Guthrie gets ahead of Alejandro De Aza 0-2. Forces a pop up on a 1-2 pitch. 2 outs.
Top 1st (0 Outs)- Guthrie throws a first pitch strike to Markakis, forces a ground out the very next pitch. 1 out.
Jeremy Guthrie will face Nick Markakis to get things started in Game 3 of the ALCS!
8:02 PM EST: Five minutes till first pitch!
7:04 PM EST: We are about and HOUR away from first pitch!
6:17 PM EST: Royals lineup: 1. Alcides Escobar (SS), 2. Nori Aoki (RF), 3. Lorenzo Cain (CF), 4. Eric Hosmer (1B), 5. Billy Butler (DH), 6. Alex Gordon (LF), 7. Salvador Perez (C), 8. Omar Infante (2B), 9. Mike Moustakas (3B).
6:13 PM EST: Orioles lineup: 1. Nick Markakis (RF), 2. Alejandro De Aza (LF), 3. Adam Jones (CF), 4. Nelson Cruz (DH), 5. Steve Pierce (1B), 6. J.J. Hardy (SS), 7. Ryan Flaherty (3B), 8. Nick Hundley (C), 9. Jonathan Schoop (2B).
6:20 PM EST: The X-Factor of this game has to be the weather. From the start of the game until the early morning hours there is a 100% chance of rain and winds in upwards of 20 MPH. There is also a chance of thunderstorms throughout the night so this game might not happen until tomorrow.
6:18 PM EST: We-Yin Chen struggled against the Tigers and he could be in for another rough outing as the Royals lineup has fared well against the left-hander. The lineup’s combined batting average is .318 while hitting 6 homeruns. Billy Butler has gone 8-for-18 against Chen with 2 HRs and 4 RBIs, and Eric Hosmer has gone 7-for-17 with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs.
6:16 PM EST: It’ll be interesting to see how well Guthrie commands his pitches since he hasn’t started a game since September 26th. Now he has thrown bullpens and simulated games to stay sharp but it’s nowhere near the intensity it will be in a postseason atmosphere.
6:14 PM EST: Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis, and Greg Holland have been just as dominant in the postseason then they were in the regular season. Kansas City’s plan seems to be to just get to their bullpen. Royals outfielder Jarrod Dyson had this to say about that, “We just want to get the ball to our bullpen with the lead. If we can do that, we know we got it.”
6:12 PM EST: Even though the Royals are inexperienced when it comes to postseason play they’ve looked very composed and not afraid of the moment. Of course, when you have the backend of a bullpen like the Royals do it makes it much easier to win all the close games they’ve encountered.
6:10 PM EST: The Orioles are a very capable team to overcome a 0-2 deficit but the last 11 teams that lost the first two game of the championship series didn’t come back and advance to the World Series.
6:08 PM EST: Baltimore’s backs are against the wall and you can bet Buck Showalter will have his guys ready to battle for Game 3. This is what Buck Showalter has to say leading up to the game, “You’ve got to win four games. You’ve got to keep from losing three. And that’s obviously oversimplifying it. But you look at teams that compete during the course of the season, they compete on the road, too.”
6:06 PM EST: The Royals defeated the Orioles in the first two games of the series in Camden Yards. They have a golden chance to rap of the Championship Series at home. All they have to do is win two of their next three games at home to advance to the World Series for the first time since 1985.
6:04 PM EST: Jeremy Guthrie is making his first postseason appearance in 2014. Guthrie didn’t put up flashy regular season numbers but he’s always been a reliable veteran who gives his team a chance to win.
6:02 PM EST: Wei-Yin Chen struggled in his first postseason game this year against Detroit going 3 2/3 innings allowing five runs on seven hits. Chen looked in control in the first three innings but when the fourth inning came he imploded and the Tiger lineup teed off for five runs.
6:00 PM EST: The Baltimore Orioles will send LHP Wei-Yin Chen (16-6, 3.54 ERA) to the mound to secure the Orioles first victory of the ALCS. The Kansas City Royals will send RHP Jeremy Guthrie (13-11, 4.13 ERA) looking to gain a 3-0 advantage in the ALCS.