Royals Break Out the Brooms vs Angles

06 Oct, 2014

The Kansas City Royals stole their way to a 12-inning victory over the Oakland A’s in the AL wild-card game. They powered their way past the mighty Los Angeles Angels with an emphatic three-game sweep in the divisional round.

There’s no way they are going to be intimidated by the Baltimore Orioles.

“We’re not afraid of those guys,” Royals ace James Shields said Sunday night. “We’re going to go out there and play our game – but obviously, we’re going to worry about that tomorrow.”

On this night, there was celebrating to do.

Alex Gordon hit a bases-clearing double in the first inning, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas each homered and the wild-card Royals finished off the Angels with an emphatic 8-3 victory in the AL Division Series.

Now, the scrappy team with the unorthodox manager, popgun offense, dynamic defense and lights-out bullpen will head to Baltimore for the AL Championship Series on Friday night.

“I was nervous. I’m a nervous wreck. I just can’t show I’m a nervous wreck,” Royals owner David Glass said. But it is great. I’m so proud of this bunch. They’ve grown up.”

The same club that was once so far out of the division race that folks in Kansas City had turned their attention to football season has gone on a tremendous tear, painting the entire city blue in the process. They’ve back in the postseason for the first time since 1985, and even Angels manager Mike Scioscia thinks they might be sticking around a while.

“They’re going to be a tough team to beat in this tournament,” he said

The power-hitting Angels, 98-64 in the regular season, became the second team in the divisional era that began in 1969 to have the best record in the majors and get swept out of the playoffs, according to STATS. In no small coincidence, the Royals dealt the same humiliating fate to the New York Yankees in the 1980 ALCS.

AP

Image Peter G. Aiken 

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