FINAL Game 2 - Royals Out Slug Giants 7-2 Even Series

Great game for the Royals last night. It looked like one of those long close games as it was tied most of the first 5 innings. The 6th inning is when it got interesting. The rookie Ventura seemed to tire in the 6th and after giving up 2 singles with one out, his day was done. On comes the HDH monster ( Herrera, Davis and Holland ), a little earlier than planned but it's all on the table at this point.  The Royals box summary pretty much lays the basics out.

Top 6

Defensive Substitution: Jarrod Dyson replaces right fielder Nori Aoki, batting 2nd, playing center field.

Defensive switch from center field to right field for Lorenzo Cain.

1.Buster Posey singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Jarrod Dyson.

2.Pablo Sandoval flies out to right fielder Lorenzo Cain.

3.Hunter Pence singles on a ground ball to shortstop Alcides Escobar. Buster Posey to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Kelvin Herrera replaces Yordano Ventura.

Coaching visit to mound.

4.Brandon Belt flies out to left fielder Alex Gordon.

5.Michael Morse grounds into a force out, shortstop Alcides Escobar to second baseman Omar Infante. Hunter Pence out at 2nd.

Bottom 6

1.Lorenzo Cain singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Gregor Blanco.

2.Eric Hosmer walks. Lorenzo Cain to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Jean Machi replaces Jake Peavy.

Coaching visit to mound.

3.Billy Butler singles on a line drive to left fielder Travis Ishikawa. Lorenzo Cain scores. Eric Hosmer to 2nd.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Terrance Gore replaces Billy Butler.

Pitching Change: Javier Lopez replaces Jean Machi.

4.Alex Gordon flies out to left fielder Travis Ishikawa.

Pitching Change: Hunter Strickland replaces Javier Lopez.

Coaching visit to mound.

With Salvador Perez batting, wild pitch by Hunter Strickland, Eric Hosmer to 3rd. Terrance Gore to 2nd.

5.Salvador Perez doubles (1) on a line drive to center fielder Gregor Blanco. Eric Hosmer scores. Terrance Gore scores.

6.Omar Infante homers (1) on a line drive to left field. Salvador Perez scores.

Pitching Change: Jeremy Affeldt replaces Hunter Strickland.

On-field Delay.

Coaching visit to mound.

7.Mike Moustakas singles on a line drive to center fielder Gregor Blanco.

8.Alcides Escobar grounds into a double play, shortstop Brandon Crawford to second baseman Joe Panik to first baseman Brandon Belt. Mike Moustakas out at 2nd.

Herrera was a little rocky in the top of the 7th but after 1 out he walked 2 and seemed really uncomfortable... but he stepped up, tightened up and got the next two outs and now we are back in the HDH groove... Davis in the 8th and Holland in the 9th. Game Over! Series even at 1 game a piece and heading to San Francisco.

There was a little dust up in the 6th when Strickland was upset and yelling at himself after giving up a double to Perez and the bomb to Infante. He was close to Sal when he was trotting home on the HR and Sal thought he was yelling at him. The Royals bench cleared, bullpen was running in... but the players and umpires did a great job of cooling some heads. I doubt it will have any lingering effects in the next games..

My intent was to write and post as the game progressed but honestly, I wanted to WATCH and ENJOY! I made some notes before the 6th but from the 6th on, I was a fan. And loving it all! Here are my notes as the game progressed early...

Top 1st - why did Ventura throw SO many fastballs to leadoff hitter Blanco? Just missed a fastball with 2 strikes, then they threw hin another and he drilled it into the right field bullpen for a 1-0 Giants lead. Good thing is, the kid learned and instantly began mixing in other pitches and pitched well for 5 innings.. great Start by the 22 year old Yordano Ventura!

Bot 1st - Billy Butler came through with HUGE RBI's, one in the first, Good for Billy, like I always say about Billy. that guy can just flat out hit.

Until the 6th it was fairly quick and well played. I missed the initial dust up after the Infante HR as I was out on the back porch clapping and whooping it up for the neighbors!! What a feeling that was. Kauffman Stadium looked wonderful on TV and the city is well represented after the first 2 games on the 2014 World Series...

Now on to the ballpark by the bay... so let's win a couple and get this back to the Blue Magic KINGdom and take back the CROWN !!