Lorenzo Cain has spent the postseason putting on a clinic in the outfield, and he brought that magic to the plate Saturday.
The Royals defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 Saturday, taking a 2-0 lead in the best of seven series.
Cain had four hits and scored two runs, and made game-saving catches all afternoon in the field.
The Royals started hot in the first, scoring two runs on back-to-back-to-back hits by Nori Aoki, Cain and Eric Hosmer, while KC starter Yordano Ventura shut down the O’s 1-2-3.
Ventura struggled in the second, walking three and allowing one run, but was saved by Cain’s hustle in center.
After Baltimore starter Bud Norris retired two to start the third, Cain beat out a tight throw at first, and Hosmer and Billy Butler hit back-to-back doubles to get the Royals back on the board.
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In the bottom half of the inning, left fielder Alejandro De Aza snaked a one-out double down the first base line. Center fielder Adam Jones made Ventura pay with a line drive blast to the left field seats to tie the game at 3-3.
Kansas City answered right back when Mike Moustakus cranked his fourth home run of the post season in the fourth inning with a drive deep into right field.
In the fifth, Baltimore scored again when De Aza hit a one-out single over a leaping Hosmer at first. Adam Jones swatted another single, and De Aza scored on a fielder’s choice by Nelson Cruz.
Ventura started the bottom of the sixth being saved by two spectacular grabs by Lorenzo Cain, but was pulled with trainers checking him out. Reports from the team on Ventura said the rookie pitcher had shoulder tightness.
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Jarrod Dyson came in to pinch run for Aoki in the top of the seventh, but was thrown out trying for second for the second night in a row.
Kelvin Herrera came on for the Royals in the seventh, and proceeded to miss the bag that would have led to a force out at first for Nick Markakis. Herrera struck out Jones, and Cruz singled to left. With the bases loaded, Steve Pearce popped up to shallow left and Lorenzo Cain once again killed a Baltimore rally with a running grab of J.J. Hardy’s pop up.
The Royals finally went down in order in the eighth for the first time all afternoon, but struck fast in the top of the ninth, when Omar Infante hit an infield single.
Terrance Gore came in as a pinch runner, and the O’s brought in closer Zach Britton. Moustakus moved Gore to second on a sacrifice, and Escobar doubled in the go-ahead run. After a fielding error put Dyson on first and Escobar on third, Lorenzo Cain singled in the game’s final run.
Greg Holland closed the game out, striking out Pearce to clinch the win for Kansas City.
Dee's Notes
- This may be the best team in all of baseball! The Royals sure are playing like it. Six straight playoff victories as Kansas City takes game two 6-4 over Baltimore.
- The Orioles lose consecutive games at home for the first time since June, which tells you how tough a ball club they can be at Camden Yards.
- Small ball is still the Royals calling card. Alcides Escobar drives in pinch runner Terrance Gore in the ninth. Lorenzo Cain's four for five performance driving in a run and scoring twice, made all the difference as the Boys in Blue pack from Baltimore to head home leading the best of seven series 2-0.
- The Royals will work out at the K on Sunday and play Game 3 Monday.
