Royals do their part in American League's 5-3 victory in All-Star Game
So, how much did the Royals contribute Tuesday night to the American League's 5-3 victory over the National League that gave the AL home-field advantage in the World Series?
Well, a bit.
Closer Greg Holland, like he has all season, did his job.
Holland came into the game in the seventh inning for Boston manager John Farrell's bunch, protecting a 5-3 lead.
Holland got his first hitter, Pittsburgh's Josh Harrison, to fly out to right.
Then Holland, as we have seen so many times, outmatched the next hitter, Colorado's Charlie Blackmon, who struck out swinging.
San Francisco's Hunter Pence then got ahead of a Holland breaking ball and hit a one-hopper to third and was thrown out -- a 1-2-3 inning for Holland.
Also, catcher Sal Perez was given the start because votes-leader Matt Wieters missed the game because of injury.
Perez caught Seattle's Felix Hernandez in the first inning and couldn't block one Hernandez changeup that got away. It was ruled a wild pitch as Andrew McCutchen of Pittsburgh moved up from first to second.
McCutchen then stole third on a strikeout -- Perez made a solid throw to third but McCutchen had a great jump off Hernandez.
In the second inning, Perez caught a towering pop-up behind home plate from Milwaukee's Carlos Gomez, who was heard chirping at Perez to "Let it drop! Let it drop!"
Perez didn't.
Perez got one at-bat, unfortunately against Dodgers superstar Clayton Kershaw. Perez took a strike, swung through a fastball, then dribbled a slow roller toward third. It looked like Perez might beat it out, but the throw from Milwaukee's Aramis Ramirez beat Perez by half a step.
Left fielder Alex Gordon likely would have played a few innings late, but he was held out because of a sprained right wrist. Gordon is expected to be back for the Royals' game Friday night at Boston.
You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.
