Party time, Kansas City style! Royals in postseason for first time since '85
CHICAGO -- Let the party begin, Royals fans!
The Royals, once a late-night punch line for comics on national TV, are going to the postseason for the first time since 1985, thus ending the longest playoff absence of any major professional team in North America.
The Royals did this with a 3-1 triumph over the Chicago White Sox on Friday night behind strong starting pitching from Jeremy Guthrie, and a bullpen that wobbled slightly but held on late.
The Royals thus claimed at least one of the two American League wild-card spots. At the moment they are the top wild-card team, one game ahead of Oakland.
One more Royals win or Oakland loss, and the Royals would clinch the top spot and guarantee a home game Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium.
The Royals also hold out hopes for a division title, having gained a game on Detroit on Friday night. The Tigers lost to the Twins, but still lead the Royals in the AL Central by one game.
3 UP
-- Esky at leadoff. Seriously, who would have thought this would work? But give credit to manager Ned Yost for shaking up the lineup radically a couple weeks ago. Alcides Escobar took over the leadoff spot and remarkably has excelled. Escobar had two more hits Friday and now is 21 for 57 (.372) at the top spot. His leadoff single in the first jump-started a three-run inning, only the sixth time all year the Royals have scored three or more runs in the first inning.
-- Nori the White Sox slayer. Chicago sportswriters are in amazement as they watch Nori Aoki blister the White Sox pitching staff. "Does he ever make an out?" one writer asked me. Yes, though it seems like he doesn't. Aoki went 11 for 13 against Chicago last week in KC. He's now 13 of 20 in the last five games against the White Sox. His triple in the first chased home Esky, and he scored on Cain's single.
-- JGuts. There are some fans and bloggers who have been down on Guthrie all season, but the truth is, he has come up very big at times. Beating the A's, 1-0, on a Friday night in Oakland during the big West Coast swing comes to mind. Beating Detroit at The K to avoid a sweep also comes to mind. And again here on Friday night, Guthrie stood up and tossed seven shutout innings with the Royals on the verge of clinching their first playoff spot since '85. Terrific job.
3 DOWN
-- Patience early but then ... The Royals really set out to work White Sox starter Hector Noesi, forcing him to throw 22 pitches in the first and 41 pitches through two innings as they jumped to a 3-0 lead. But the Royals returned to their hacking ways after that and let Noesi go six innings, still down only 3-0.
-- Let it go. Guthrie reached for a grounder up the middle in the fifth inning by White Sox second baseman Marcus Semien. Guthrie actually deflected it with his bare hand, which is never a smart move. The ball deflected short of the infield dirt for a hit. Luckily, Guthrie's hand was not injured.
-- Nothing. No other complaints on this historical night.
You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.
