Royals Take 2-0 Lead in ALCS; Giants Take Game 1 of NLCS

The Kansas City Royals continued their improbable post season run by beating the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 October 11th to take a 2-0 in the American League Championship Series.  Both of the Royals’ wins came in Baltimore, and they head back to Kansas City for Games 3, 4 and if necessary, 5 on October 13th-15th.  The Royals now have history on their side in their quest for their first American League Championship since 1985; since the LCS playoff format went to seven games in, coincidentally, 1985, no team that won the first two games on the road has failed to advance to the World Series.  Kansas City is the 12th team to win the first two on the road.

It has become Kansas City’s trademark in this post season to win games in extra innings, and they did so again in this series, winning Game 1 by a score of 8-6 on home runs in the 10th inning by Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas.  Game 2 almost went into extra innings but Alcides Escobar doubled home the go ahead run in the ninth inning and the Royals won 6-4.

The National League Championship Series got underway on October 11th, with a matchup of pitching staff aces, with Madison Bumgarner of the San Francisco Giants versus Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals.  Wainwright gave up three runs, two earned, in his 4 2/3 innings and that was all the Giants needed as they took Game 1 in St. Louis 3-0.  Bumgarner pitched 7 2/3 shutout innings, striking out seven and walking just one.

Game 2 is October 12th in St. Louis