KC Royals: Ten Most Dominant Starts In Royals Playoff History

August 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; The time vehicle from the film Back to the Future is rolled out onto the field before the Los Angeles Dodgers play against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

5. 1985 American League Championship Series, Game 5

Danny Jackson: 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 6 K

Game Score: 76

Game Result: Royals 2, Blue Jays 0

I mentioned this game earlier, which foreshadowed Danny Jackson’s clutch Game 5 performance in the World Series. Hey, I guess that second game isn’t so surprising. DJ had already shown he had that Game 5 back-to-the-wall thing down.

The Kansas City Royals dropped the first two games of the 1985 ALDS in Toronto, won Game 3 on a game-for-the-ages by third baseman George Brett, and dropped Game 4 after the Royals allowed three runs in the top of the ninth inning after entering the frame with a 1-0 lead.

The KC Royals needed a three-game miracle, and got the first installment with Danny Jackson’s best game in his Kansas City career (while defeating Toronto ace Dave Stieb.

George Brett (who else) gave the Kansas City Royals an early first inning lead by driving in Lonnie Smith from third base with a groundout to short. Darryl Motley added a sacrifice fly to center in the second to score Frank White to give KC a 2-0 margin.

Danny Jackson took it from there.

Jackson held the Blue Jays scoreless despite allowing seven hits and one walk in the next four half-innings. He worked out of jams in the fourth and fifth innings without allowing a run, despite opening both of those frames by allowing hits to the first two batters. In the fifth, Jackson managed to escape without damage despite the Blue Jays getting runners on second and third with no outs.

Jackson allowed two more hits and a walk in the sixth inning, but got catcher Ernie Whitt to ground out with the bases loaded. That began a string of ten straight outs that allowed Danny Jackson to finish out the game.

Jackson’s Game 5 masterpiece inspired the KC Royals to go on a three-game run to eliminate the Blue Jays from the playoffs and take the second American League pennant in club history.

Next: 2015 American League Division Series, Game 5