Kansas City Royals 3, Los Angeles Angels 2
For the second straight game, it took extra innings, but the Kansas City Royals eventually emerged victorious from Game 1 of their ALDS matchup with the Los Angeles Angels.
A sound bullpen, stellar defense and a big homerun from third baseman Mike Moustakas made the difference for the Royals. The Angels, who I projected to win the series on the back of their vastly superior offense, just couldn't get anything going against Royals left hander Jason Vargas.
Vargas pitched to contact and let the strength of this Royals squad - the defense - make the difference. He allowed three hits - two of which were solo homeruns, one walk and struck out two in six innings of work. It was his first start in eight days.
Outfielders Nori Aoki and Lorenzo Cain both made several fantastic defensive plays to key the Kansas City victory. Cain, early in the first, perfectly timed a leap to rob Angel's leadoff hitter Kole Calhoun of what most likely would have been an extra base hit. In the second, he made a sliding grab of a line drive by Erick Aybar.
Aoki made plays in the 6th and 7th that kept the Angels from blowing the game wide open. With two on and two out in the 6th he somehow made a no-look catch of a Howie Kendrick drive that was headed for the wall. And the next inning, with a man on third and two outs, he stole a run from the Angels with a great catch in the right field corner.
For the Angels, Chris Iannetta and David Freese homered, but they just couldn't get any sustained offense going, due in large part to the great defensive plays the Royals were making. Possible AL MVP Mike Trout went 0-for-4 with a walk.
In the 11th, Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas crushed a solo homerun and closer Greg Holland earned the save.
Game 1 played to the strengths of the Royals. Their pitching and defense stole them a victory but in the long run, this particular recipe for success will be difficult to sustain.
If the Angels bats wake up, watch for this to be a very different series.
