After two games, at least one of the ALDS matchups will go four or five games. The Royals rebounded from their 5-2 loss in Game 1 to tie the series, beating the Astros 5-4 on Friday.
Ben Zobrist’s single drove in Alcides Escobar following a leadoff triple to break a 4-4 seventh inning tie and give Kansas City its winning margin. Ryan Madson and Wade Davis protected that lead, each pitching a hitless, scoreless inning to close out the win. The defending AL champions became the first team to win a home game this season, after road teams prevailed in the two Wild Card games and ALDS openers.
Early on, it looked like the Astros would keep the Royals on the ropes, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Colby Rasmus’ RBI single. Houston increased that margin to 3-0 on a bases-loaded hit by George Springer.
Johnny Cueto’s struggles since joining the Royals after the trade deadline (including a 2-4 record and 5.58 ERA in September) appeared to be following him into the postseason. He also served up a home run to Rasmus in the third inning. (The Astros outfielder has six homers in his past six games, and also set a postseason record by getting an extra-base hit in each of his first six career playoff games.)
Cueto didn’t look sharp or confident, throwing 66 of 103 pitches for strikes and allowing seven hits with three walks in six innings, but he was bailed out by the Royals’ typically outstanding bullpen and timely hitting. Down 4-2 in the sixth, Kansas City tied the game on a deft piece of hitting from Eric Hosmer, poking a single to left to drive in Lorenzo Cain. Following a Kendrys Morales single and walk by Mike Moustakas, Hosmer came in to score when Salvador Perez drew a walk with the bases loaded.
As you might have expected going into this series, the difference in Game 2 was each team’s bullpen. Kelvin Herrera, Madson and Davis didn’t allow a run in their three innings. Meanwhile, five Houston relievers gave up two runs, six hits and two walks. That squandered a solid start from Scott Kazmir, who allowed three runs and five hits in 5.1 innings. With a September even worse than Cueto’s, in which he posted a 6.52 ERA in six starts, the left-hander was a big concern for a Game 2 start. But he’s not the reason the Astros lost this game.
Houston did have a chance to tie the game in the ninth inning when Davis walked Preston Tucker. But pinch-runner Carlos Gomez was picked off first base, erasing any chance for the Astros to bring around another run. Gomez was initially ruled safe, but replay showed that Hosmer tagged him out before he could get his hand on the bag. Royals manager Ned Yost challenged the call and it was overturned, essentially applying the knockout blow.
It is a standard rule that you don’t get picked off in a one-run game in the ninth inning. It is especially true with Wade Davis pitching.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 9, 2015
Yost won both his challenges in the ballgame, also getting an out call overturned in the third inning when Alcides Escobar beat out a bunt single.
The series goes to Minute Maid Park in Houston for Game 3 of the ALDS on Sunday. Edinson Volquez starts for the Royals, while the Astros counter with Dallas Keuchel, following up his win over the Yankees in Monday’s AL Wild Card Game. (He’ll also have five days of rest after facing the Yankees with only a three-day break.) First pitch is at 4:10 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on MLB Network.