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Following a 5-2 defeat at home, the Kansas City Royals were seeking revenge against the Houston Astros. The Royals would have to have their bats alive all game to complete the task, but in the end, the Royals prevailed by a final score of 5-4.
On the mound for the Houston Astros would be Scott Kazmir. Kazmir was acquired in a mid-season trade from the Oakland Athletics. This season, Kazmir has pitched his way to a 7-11 record with a 3.10 ERA, but has struggled recently. Today, Kazmir would struggle again, going 5.1 innings allowing 3 earned runs on 5 hits.
The Kansas City Royals would call on Johnny Cueto. Since being traded to the Royals at the deadline, Cueto has struggled, pitching himself to a 4-7 record with an ERA of 4.76. Today, Cueto would go 6 innings, allowing 4 earned runs on 7 hits.
The Astros would once again begin the game hot when in the first inning, Colby Rasmus would drive George Springer from second on a double to deep right field. Rasmus has been hot for the Astros so far this postseason with a .500 average in 3 games.
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Later in that inning, Rasmus would be moved to third on an Evan Gattis single. Luis Valbuena would end any threat though, striking out on the next at bat.
In the top of the second, Springer would extend the lead for the Astros. After hits from Jason Castro and Jake Marisnick and a walk to Castro, Springer would single to shallow left field, scoring both Carter and Castro and increasing the Astros lead to 3-0.
On the next at bat, Carlos Correa would end any more threat to the Royals, grounding into a 5-4-3 double play.
It wouldn’t take long for the Royals to answer back and cut into the lead, though. In the bottom of the second inning, Salvador Perez would homer on the second pitch he saw, sending it 378 feet, cutting the lead to 3-1.
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Rasmus would continue his hot hand with a home run in the next inning, giving him three home runs in three postseason games. Following an Alex Gordon ground out, Ramus would hit the fifth pitch he saw out of the park, extending the Astros lead to 4-1.
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Cueto would get out of the inning with no more harm done, though, as we would force Gattis, Valbuena and Chris Carter out.
After this, the Royals pitching began to settle down and the bats began to take fire.
After an Alex Rios double and an Alcides Escobar single in the bottom of the third, the Royals would see Ben Zobrist ground into a 5-4-3 double play, scoring Rios from third and cutting the Astros lead to 4-2.
It would take the Astros two innings to get another base hit but Luis Valbuena would break the streak with a single. Cueto would pitch himself out of this inning with no damage done, forcing 3 outs in a row.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Kansas City bats began to really roll. Following a double by Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer would single to right, scoring the speedy Cain from second and cutting the Astros lead to 4-3, giving hope to Kansas City fans.
After being moved over on a Kendrys Morales single, Hosmer would score, tying up the game. The run came courtesy of a Perez walk after a Mike Moustakas walk loaded the bases.
Josh Fields would get Gordon and Rios to both strike out, ending the threat that could be presented in the half inning.
It wouldn’t be long until the Royals would get their first lead of the ALDS. In the 7th inning, Escobar tripled to deep center field. Escorbar would score on a Ben Zobrist single during the following at bat, giving the Royals the 5-4 lead.
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Ryan Madson came in for Kelvin Herrera and forced three straight outs, including two strikeouts to end the top of the eighth, giving the Astros one final shot to either extend or win the game.
In the bottom of the inning, the Royals were once again knocking on the door, this time after a Perez single got him on the base paths and a Gordon single moved Perez over to third.
Pat Neshek would get out of the jam, forcing Paulo Orlando to ground out and Escobar to fly out to right field.
The Astros would have one final chance in the top of the ninth, but nothing would come out of it. Following a Jed Lowrie strike out, Preston Tucker drew a walk and gave way to pinch runner Carlos Gomez. During the next at-bat, Gomez would be picked off and Jose Altuve would ground out, ending the inning and tying the series at 1-1.
Player of the Game- Salvador Perez
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Perez was very good today, getting 2 RBI’s on 2 hits. Perez would also include a home run, putting the first run on the board for the Royals. Perez gets the nod over Rasmus due to the fact that the Royals won. Major props to Rasmus, though, as he has homered in all of the past three game for the Astros.
ALDS Game 3 (Series Tied 1-1)
The Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals will travel to Houston to play games 3 and 4. The game will take place on Sunday at 4:10 ET. The Houston Astros will start Dallas Keuchel, who pitched a shut out in the AL Wildcard games and the Royals will start Edinson Volquez.