KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Lorenzo Cain capped the AL Championship Series with his best catch yet: an MVP trophy.
The smooth center fielder snagged MVP honors after helping the Kansas City Royals to a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a 2-1 victory Wednesday.
Along with making a series of splendid defensive plays, Cain batted .533 in the series and scored five runs. He had eight hits, matching the franchise record for an ALCS set by Willie Wilson in 1985 against Toronto.
"It's an amazing feeling," Cain said. "Unbelievable feeling. I've enjoyed every moment of it."
What a month it's been for Cain, who went home to Oklahoma between playoff series to be with his wife, Jenny, for the birth of their first child. He rejoined the team in plenty of time to torment the Orioles.
Cain matched a Royals record with four hits in Game 2 on Saturday, and scored Kansas City's first run in Game 3 on Tuesday night. He also laid down a key sacrifice bunt -- the first of his career -- that helped Kansas City take a 2-0 lead in the first inning Wednesday.
Cain had two doubles, two walks and the team's only stolen base in the series.
Now, the Royals are headed back to the World Series for the first time since beating the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games in 1985, the last time Kansas City even reached the playoffs.
Cain, who did not play organized baseball until his sophomore year in high school, joined George Brett (1985) and Frank White (1980) as the only Royals players to be chosen MVP of the ALCS.
