WP: Jason Vargas LP: Miguel Gonzalez SV: Greg Holland
The Royals swept the ALCS 4-0!!!
The Kansas City Royals defeat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1!!!
THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!
Top 9th (2 Outs)- J.J Hardy grounds out to third base on a 1-2 pitch. 3 outs.
Top 9th (1 Out)- Delmon Young falls behind in the count 1-2. Greg Holland strikes out Young with a breaking ball away. 2 outs.
Alejandro De Aza pinch runs for Nelson Cruz at first base.
Top 9th (0 Outs)- Nelson Cruz grounds into a fielder's choice. Adam Jones out at second base, Cruz safe at first. 1 out.
Top 9th (0 Outs)- Greg Holland gets ahead of Adam Jones 0-2. Jones works the count full 3-2 after a couple balls in the dirt and a fastball outside. Adam Jones leads off the inning with a walk. Holland missed with a fastball way inside. Runner at 1st, 0 out.
The Royals are three outs away from advancing to the World Series for the first time since 1985!
RHP Greg Holland replaces RHP Wade Davis on the mound.
END OF 8TH INNING
Bot 8th (2 Outs)- Mike Moustakas gets ahead in the count 2-0. Zach Britton evens the count 2-2. Moustakas breaks his bat and pops up to second base. 3 outs.
Bot 8th (2 Outs)- Zach Britton intentionally walks Omar Infante. Mike Moustakas is up next. Runners at 1st and 3rd, 2 outs.
Bot 8th (1 Out)- Salvador Perez grounds out softly on the 0-1 pitch. Terrnace Gore advances to third. 2 outs.
Bot 8th (0 Outs)- Alex Gordon gets ahead in the count 3-1. Zach Britton comes back to strike out Gordon on a 3-2 fastball that painted the outside. Runner at 2nd, 1 out.
Terrance Gore pinch runs for Billy Butler at second base.
Bot 8th (0 Outs)- Billy Butler drills the 0-1 pitch to left field for a leadoff double.Runner at 2nd, 0 out.
LHP Zach Britton replaces LHP Andrew Miller on the mound.
MIDDLE OF 8TH INNING
Top 8th (2 Outs)- Steve Pierce grounds out to third base on the 0-1 pitch. 3 outs.
Top 8th (2 Outs)- Wade Davis gets ahead of Nick Markakis 0-2 before he smacked a single to left field. Runner at 1st, 2 outs.
Top 8th (1 Out)- Pinch hitter Kelly Johnson hits a dribbler to the mound on the 1-1 pitch, Wade Davis gets the out at first. 2 outs.
Top 8th (0 Outs)- Ryan Flaherty flies out to right field on the 0-1 pitch. 1 out.
RHP Wade Davis replaces RHP Kelvin Herrera on the mound.
END OF 7TH INNING
Bot 7th (2 Outs)- Andrew Miller gets ahead of Eric Hosmer 0-2. Hosmer evens the count 2-2. Miller strikes out Hosmer swinging with a breaking ball away. 3 outs.
Bot 7th (1 Out)- Lorenzo Cain grounds out to third base on the first pitch. 2 outs.
Bot 7th (0 Outs)- Jarrod Dyson pinch hits for Nori Aoki and grounds out to first base. 1 out.
LHP Andrew Miller replaces RHP Darren O'Day on the mound.
MIDDLE OF 7TH INNING
Top 7th (2 Outs)- Caleb Joseph falls behind in the count 1-2. Kelvin Herrera strikes out Joseph on a chaneup running down and in. 3 outs.
Top 7th (1 Out)- J.J. Hardy gets ahead in the count 2-0. Kelvin Herrera bounces back and evens the count 2-2. Hardy hits a chopper to shortstop, thrown out at first. 2 outs.
Top 7th (0 Outs)- Delmon Young gets ahead in the count 3-0. Young grounds out to second base on the 3-1 pitch. 1 out.
END OF 6TH INNING
Bot 6th (2 Outs)- Alcides Escobar gets jammed on a 1-1 pitch that broke his bat, grounds out to second base. 3 outs.
Miguel Gonzalez's final pitching line: 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO. 85 pitches, 50 thrown for strikes.
RHP Darren O'Day replaces RHP Miguel Gonzalez on the mound.
Bot 6th (1 Out)- Mike Moustakas is agressive early in the count, falling behind 0-2. Miguel Gonzalez strikes out Moustakas on a 1-2 fastball. 2 outs.
Bot 6th (1 Out)- Miguel Gonzalez walks Omar Infante on four straight pitches. Runners at 1st and 2nd, 1 out.
Bot 6th (0 Outs)- Salvador Perez gets ahead in the count 2-0. Perez hits a hard line drive to left field but it was right at Nelson Cruz. 1 out.
Bot 6th (0 Outs)- Alex Gordon is hit by a pitch on a 1-1 pitch to leadoff the inning. Runner at 1st, 0 out.
MIDDLE OF 6TH INNING
Top 6th (2 Outs)- Nelson Cruz lines out to second base to end the inning and the rally. 3 outs.
Top 6th (2 Outs)- Adam Jones singles to right field. Jonathan Schoop advances to third base. Runners at 1st and 3rd, 2 outs.
Top 6th (1 Out)- Steve Pierce pops up on the infield on a 2-0 pitch. Runner at 1st, 2 outs.
Jason Vargas's final pitching line: 5 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 6 SO. 73 pitches, 43 thrown for strikes.
RHP Kelvin Herrera replaces LHP Jason Vargas on the mound.
Top 6th (0 Outs)- Jason Vargas gets ahead of Nick Markakis 0-2. Vargas strikes out Markakis on a 1-2 pitch. Runner at 1st, 1 out.
Top 6th (0 Outs)- Jonathan Schoop walks to leadoff the inning. Runner at 1st, 0 out.
END OF 5TH INNING
Miguel Gonzalez is keeping the Orioles in the game. 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO. 70 pitches, 44 thrown for strikes.
Bot 5th (2 Outs)- Billy Butler grounds out to shortstop on the 1-0 pitch. 3 outs.
Bot 5th (2 Outs)- Miguel Gonzalez intentionally walks Eric Hosmer. Runners at 1st and 3rd, 2 outs. Billy Butler up next.
Bot 5th (1 Out)- Lorenzo Cain falls behind in the count 0-2. Cain works the count even 2-2, Aoki advances to second base on the wild pitch. Cain hits a grounder up the middle, Schoop gets the out at first and Aoki advances to third base. 2 outs.
Bot 5th (0 Outs)- Nori Aoki gets ahead in the count 2-0. Aoki grounds into a fielders choice. Escobar out at second base, Aoki stands at first base. Runner at 1st, 1 out.
Bot 5th (0 Outs)- Alcides Escobar leads off the inning with a single to left field. Runner at 1st, 0 out. Escobar 2-for-3 on the day with a run scored.
MIDDLE OF 5TH INNING
Jason Vargas is pitching a gem so far. 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 SO. 64 pitches, 39 thrown for strikes.
Top 5th (2 Outs)- Ryan Flaherty strikes out looking on a fastball that dotted the outside corner. 3 outs.
Top 5th (1 Out)- Caleb Joseph gets ahead in the count 3-1. Jospeh fouls off a couple pitches to keep the count full 3-2. Jason Vargas ends up striking out Joseph on a breaking down and in. 2 outs.
Top 5th (0 Outs)- Jason Vargas gets ahead of J.J. Hardy 1-2. Hardy drives the ball deep to left, Alex Gordon makes a jumping catch against the wall to record the out, 1 out. Unbelievable catch by Alex Gordon!!!
END OF 4TH INNING
Bot 4th (2 Outs)- Miguel Gonzalez gets ahead in the count 0-2 to Mike Moustakas. Moustakas grounds out to second on the next pitch, 3 outs.
Bot 4th (2 Outs)- Omar Infante singles to left field on the first pitch. Runner at 1st, 2 outs.
Bot 4th (0 Outs)- Salvador Perez pops up on the infield on the 1-0 pitch. Alex Gordon gets doubled off as he was running on the play. 2 outs.
Bot 4th (0 Outs)- Alex Gordon walks on a 3-1 count to leadoff the inning. Runner at 1st, 0 out.
MIDDLE OF 4TH INNING
Top 4th (1 Out)- Delmon Young works the count full 3-2. Grounds into another double play to end the inning. 3 outs.
Top 4th (0 Outs)- Nelson Cruz strikes out on three pitches. 1 out.
Top 4th (0 Outs)- Adam Jones gets ahead in the count 3-0. Jones walks on the 3-1 pitch. Runner at 1st, 0 outs.
END OF 3RD INNING
Miguel Gonzalez's pitching line so far: 3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 SO
Jason Vargas's pitching line so far: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SO
Bot 3rd (2 Outs)- Billy Butler smacks the first pitch from Miguel Gonzalez to third base. Ryan Flaherty with the nice backhand, throws to second to get the out. 3 outs.
Bot 3rd (2 Outs)- Eric Hosmer singles to right field on an 0-1 pitch. Runner at 1st, 2 outs.
Bot 3rd (1 Out)- Miguel Gonzalez strikes out Lorenzo Cain on three pitches. 2 outs.
Bot 3rd (0 Outs)- Nori Aoki gets ahead in the count 2-1. Aoki flies out to left field on the very next pitch. 1 out.
MIDDLE OF 3RD INNING
After Ryan Flaherty led off the inning with a homerun, the Orioles can't muster anything else in the inning.
Top 3rd (2 Outs)- Steve Pierce lines out to left field on the first pitch. Alex Gordon makes a nice running grab to rob Pierce for the second time. 3 outs.
Top 3rd (1 Out)- Jason Vargas gets ahead of Nick Markakis 0-2. Markakis works the count even 2-2. Nick Markakis grounds out to second base. 2 outs.
Top 3rd (0 Outs)- Jonathan Schoop strikes out on a changeup away. 1 out.
Top 3rd (0 Outs)- Ryan Flaherty leads off the inning with a solo homerun to right field! 2-1 Royals.
END OF 2ND INNING
Bot 2nd (2 Outs)- Alcides Escobar lines out to right field on the 1-0 pitch. 3 outs.
Bot 2nd (1 Out)- Mike Moustakas gets behind in the count 1-2. Miguel Gonzalez strikes out Moustakas with a fastball up and in. 2 outs.
Bot 2nd (0 Outs)- Omar Infante strikes out to leadoff the inning. 1 out.
MIDDLE OF 2ND INNING
Top 2nd (2 Outs)- Caleb Joseph drives a ball to the left field warning track but Alex Gordon glided over to snag it. 3 outs.
Top 2nd (2 Outs)- J.J. Hardy reaches base on a bloop single to center field.
Top 2nd (0 Outs)- Delmon Young gets ahead in the count 2-1. Young grounds into the double play the very next pitch. 2 outs.
Top 2nd (0 Outs)- Jason Vargas gets ahead of Nelson Cruz 0-2. Cruz works the count full 3-2. After getting ahead 0-2 Jason Vargas walks Nelson Cruz to leadoff the inning.
END OF 1ST INNING
The Kansas City Royals scored both of their runs without driving the ball out of the infield!
Bot 1st (2 Outs)- Salvador Perez flies out to left field on the first pitch. 3 outs.
Bot 1st (2 Outs)- Alex Gordon gets ahead in the count 2-1. The count runs full 3-2. Alex Gordon walks with 2 outs. Runners at 1st and 2nd.
Bot 1st (1 Out)- Billy Butler grounds out to third. 2 outs.
Bot 1st (1 Out)- Eric Hosmer hits a grounder to first base. Steve Pierce fields and throws home. Alcides Escobar knocks the ball out of Caleb Joseph's glove. Escobar and Aoki score, 2-0 Royals. Hosmer at second, 1 out.
Bot 1st (0 Outs)- Lorenzo Cain sacrifice bunts, moves the runners over. Runners at 2nd and 3rd, 1 out.
Bot 1st (0 Outs)- Nori Aoki is drilled on the first pitch from Gonzalez. Runners at 1st and 2nd, 0 outs.
Bot 1st (0 Outs)- Miguel Gonzalez's first pitch to Alcides Escobar is a strike. Escobar reaches on an infield single on the 0-2 pitch.
MIDDLE OF 1ST INNING
It took Jason Vargas 7 pitches to get through the Top of the 1st inning!
Top 1st (2 Outs)- Adam Jones strikes out on a breaking ball in the dirt. 3 outs.
Top 1st (1 Out)- Steve Pierce jumps on the first pitch and drives it to left field. Alex Gordon makes a nice running grab in the left field corner! 2 outs.
Top 1st (0 Outs)- Nick Markakis grounds out on the 1-0 pitch. Omar Infante with the nice play! 1 out.
Jason Vargas will face Nick Markakis to get Game 4 of the ALCS started!!!
4:02 PM EST: Five mintues till first pitch!!!
4:00 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).
4:00 PM EST: Orioles lineup: 1. Nick Markakis (RF), 2. Steve Pierce (1B), 3. Adam Jones (CF), 4. Nelson Cruz (LF), 5. Delmon Young (DH), 6. J.J. Hardy (SS), 7. Caleb Joseph (C), 8. Ryan Flaherty (3B), 9. Jonathan Schoop (2B).
1:25 PM EST: There is a very good chance the Royals sweep today, simply because they have all the momentum and they are playing great baseball in all facets of the game. However, don’t put it past Buck Showalter getting his team ready to play. The Orioles are still a very good team and they could bust out today offensively, but the Royals are have the series edge.
1:25 PM EST: Kansas City’s bullpen was rock solid again last night as they pitched four shutout innings. They didn’t allow a single base runner and they struck out three batters. In the Royals seven playoff games the bullpen is 6-0 with a 2.01 ERA. They have relied on their arms in the bullpen and they have answered the bell every time. It’s imperative the Orioles get out to an early lead where they have some breathing room because once they get to the three-headed monster the game is just about over.
1:24 PM EST: Gonzalez hasn’t had good results against the Royals in his career. In three career starts he has gone 1-2 with a 4.82 ERA. When you combine that with the fact that Kansas City’s lineup is on fire it could be a short outing for the right-hander.
1:23 PM EST: Even though Gonzalez hasn’t pitched in the postseason this year he did have a good outing back in the 2012 ALDS against the Yankees where he went seven innings allowing only one run, while striking out eight batters.
1:22 PM EST: The matchup for Vargas is a good one as he is 2-3 with a 1.94 ERA in eight career starts against Baltimore. However, Vargas didn’t face them this season and two newcomers Nelson Cruz (10-for-30, 4 HRs) and Delmon Young (7-for-18) have good career numbers against the veteran left-hander.
1:21 PM EST: The Royals are in the catbirds seat, as they are up 3-0 in the series and they still have two consecutive home games if needed. Baltimore has now margin for error, if they lose they go home. It doesn’t look good for the Orioles as they look to become just the second team to come back from a 3-0 deficit.
1:21 PM EST: Miguel Gonzalez will be making his first postseason start this year on Wednesday afternoon and there couldn’t be any more pressure on him as the Orioles are on the brink of elimination. Just like Vargas, Gonzalez hasn’t pitched in a long time but for Gonzalez his last start was September 28th. Gonzalez doesn’t blow up the radar gun but he commands all of his pitches, we’ll see how good his control is with the long layoff.
1:20 PM EST: Jason Vargas made one previous start in the postseason against the Los Angeles Angels two weeks ago. Vargas went six innings allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out two. Anytime there is a long time between starts for a starter there could be command issues early in the game.
1:19 PM EST: The Baltimore Orioles will send RHP Miguel Gonzalez (10-9, 3.23 ERA) to the mound to avoid elimination from the postseason. The Kansas City Royals will send LHP Jason Vargas (11-10, 3.71 ERA) to the mound trying to close out the series and advance to the World Series for the first time since 1985.