The Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles have swept the American League Division Series to advance to the Championship Series. The two teams will begin their best of 7 series Friday night at Baltimore. The Royals took care of the Angels in 3 games, and the Orioles did the same to the Tigers. Both the Angels and Tigers were favorites to battle for the World Series trophy, but neither team could muster up a victory in postseason play.
The Royals have been the Cinderella story of the postseason thus far, dating back to last Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game. Even after that wild 12 inning game, the Angels were heavy favorites in the ALDS, especially with home-field advantage. The Royals would continue their streak of extra inning victories in the first 2 games of the series.
Kansas City stole the first to games in Anaheim to extend their extra inning streak to 3. They took Game 1 in 11 innings on a Mike Moustakas solo shot. Game 2 went 11 innings as well, with the Royals scoring 3 in the 11th, including an Eric Hosmer 2-run shot.
Game 3 in Kansas City was nowhere near an extra-inning game, as the Royals took care of business no problem. After falling behind on a Mike Trout solo homer in the 1st, KC scored 3 in the bottom half to knock starter C.J Wilson out before he was able to get 3 outs. The Royals would never look back, completing the sweep with an 8-3 win, and advancing to their first ALCS since 1985.
The Orioles and Tigers matchup was said to be the most even series this postseason, but someone forgot to tell Baltimore that. After a 12-3 blowout in Game 1, the Orioles would get to the Tigers bullpen the next day to erase a 6-3 deficit. Delmon Young haunted his former team with the go-ahead 3 run double in the 8th for the 7-6 lead. That would be the final score to give the O's a 2-0 series lead heading to Detroit.
David Price and Bud Norris were in a pitching duel in Game 5, keeping the game scoreless in to the 6th. That was before Tiger-killer Nelson Cruz continued to hurt Detroit in the postseason, sneaking a 2-run homer inside the foul pole in right field. Cruz has 16 career postseason home runs, which is good for 9th all time. The O's held off a Tigers 9th inning rally to hang on for a 2-1 win, to complete the sweep.
The O's are in the ALCS for the first time since 1997, and will face James Shields in Game 1 Friday. Baltimore has not officially announced a starter, but their rotation will be fully rested following a sweep, and a 4 day break.
The Royals have been the Cinderella story of the postseason thus far, dating back to last Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game. Even after that wild 12 inning game, the Angels were heavy favorites in the ALDS, especially with home-field advantage. The Royals would continue their streak of extra inning victories in the first 2 games of the series.
Kansas City stole the first to games in Anaheim to extend their extra inning streak to 3. They took Game 1 in 11 innings on a Mike Moustakas solo shot. Game 2 went 11 innings as well, with the Royals scoring 3 in the 11th, including an Eric Hosmer 2-run shot.
Game 3 in Kansas City was nowhere near an extra-inning game, as the Royals took care of business no problem. After falling behind on a Mike Trout solo homer in the 1st, KC scored 3 in the bottom half to knock starter C.J Wilson out before he was able to get 3 outs. The Royals would never look back, completing the sweep with an 8-3 win, and advancing to their first ALCS since 1985.
The Orioles and Tigers matchup was said to be the most even series this postseason, but someone forgot to tell Baltimore that. After a 12-3 blowout in Game 1, the Orioles would get to the Tigers bullpen the next day to erase a 6-3 deficit. Delmon Young haunted his former team with the go-ahead 3 run double in the 8th for the 7-6 lead. That would be the final score to give the O's a 2-0 series lead heading to Detroit.
David Price and Bud Norris were in a pitching duel in Game 5, keeping the game scoreless in to the 6th. That was before Tiger-killer Nelson Cruz continued to hurt Detroit in the postseason, sneaking a 2-run homer inside the foul pole in right field. Cruz has 16 career postseason home runs, which is good for 9th all time. The O's held off a Tigers 9th inning rally to hang on for a 2-1 win, to complete the sweep.
The O's are in the ALCS for the first time since 1997, and will face James Shields in Game 1 Friday. Baltimore has not officially announced a starter, but their rotation will be fully rested following a sweep, and a 4 day break.
