For the first time in 30 years, the Kansas City Royals are World Series champions.
After missing out on the World Series title in 2014, the Royals defeated the New York Mets at Citi Field 7-2 last night to win their first World Series title since 1985. For the eighth time in 11 postseason games, the Royals came back to win. They trailed 2-0 entering the ninth inning when they rallied to tie the game. With great relief pitching, they came out with five runs in the 12th inning to beat the Mets.
The Mets chose to keep starter Matt Harvey, also known as the “Dark Knight” in the game to start the ninth while not going to closer Jeurys Familia; turns out, one it was one inning too many. Harvey walked Lorenzo Cain and allowed a double to first basemen Eric Hosmer when he was pulled with a 2-1 lead. The Royals scored the tying run off Familia, the third time he blew a save in the World Series.
The Royals put away the game in the 12th. In his first post-season at-bat, shortstop Christian Colon had a pinch-hit a RBI single which gave the Royals a 3-2 lead. The Royals finished the highest-scoring extra inning in World Series history with an RBI double by shortstop Alcides Escobar and a three-run double by center fielder Lorenzo Cain. Wade Davis, the KC closer, shut down the Mets in the bottom of the inning and the Royals celebrated.
KC catcher Salvador Perez was named the 2015 World Series MVP. The three-time all star and two-time Gold Glove winner can now add MVP to his list of titles. Perez batted .364 in the Fall Classic.
Kansas City was the first team since the Oakland A’s in 1989, to win a World Series the year after losing it.