KC Royals Beat Astros 6-2, Still Best Team In MLB

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KC Royals are 7-2 after beating Houston 6-2 Thursday night. The total team victory featured stellar defense, tough pitching, hitting the cover off the ball and generally looking awesome.

Mike Moustakas started things off in the 1st inning with his third home run of the season. It was a curve thrown by Doug Fister that landed in the second row of seats in right-field. That was the first of five straight rockets hit off Royals bats that would result in a grand total of one run. Moose, Cain, Hoz, Morales then Gordo in the second all smashed the ball and Houston was lucky to make it through that onslaught.

The Royals got a nice double play in the bottom of the 2nd when starter Ian Kennedy struck out Tyler White swinging. Colby Rasmus was gunned down by Sal at second base. There is no explanation why Rasmus was running against Salvy in the 2nd inning. But Sal took his time, wound up and launched a bullet to 2nd to complete the double play.

Lorenzo Cain made a great catch in short right-field in the 4th inning. He made a ton of putouts in center Thursday night.

Doug Fister was getting creamed all night. He gave up eight very hard hit balls by the 6th inning, many coming during a span of 14 straight outs. With 2 outs in the top of the 6th and behind 0-1, his luck ran out. Cain hit a little pop fly to right but George Springer lost it in the LED lights at Minute Maid Park. It won’t be the last time that happens, those lights are a disaster. The stadium lighting engineer, Yugota B. Kidden, was last seen speeding up I-35 toward the Oklahoma state line.

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Instead of the inning being over and Houston going into the bottom of the 6th behind 0-1, the Royals scored five straight runs with the glaring two outs on the scoreboard to take a 6-0 lead. The Royals haven’t scored five runs that fast since…since…well the 2015 playoffs at Houston. Oops. The Royals scored five runs in the 8th inning of that game to steal the game and to go on and win the series on the way to the championship. Need any more similarities? In 2015 Rios, the #9 hitter led off the inning at Minute Maid with a single. Thurs night, Orlando the #9 hitter led of the inning at Minute Maid with a single.

It was nice to see the Astros get a single in the 6th inning. Hooray! Then Alcides Escobar made what Rex Hudler called the “play of the year” a spectacular over the shoulder grab on a short fly to center. He slid to the ground, hopped up and made a great throw to Hosmer at first base to double up Carlos Gomes. It was an unbelievable play that will be shown on Sportscenter highlights for a long time. Esky was the leadoff batter in the next inning, a prerequisite to any historic defensive play.

Next: Are The 2016 Royals The Best KC Team Ever?

Apr 14, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

This Is The Best Baseball Team Ever In Kansas City

In the bottom of the 7th the Royals finally found a way to keep Jose Altuve off the bases and out of the pitcher and catcher’s hair. We gave him a home run with no one on and sent him to the dugout. He’s a pain

Paulo Orlando made yet another nice play in the 7th and looked good at the plate all night.

Wade Davis relieved Danny Duffy long enough to face one batter and record the 3rd and final double play of the evening. Kennedy was outstanding all night to earn the win, Davis gets the save.

The Royals deserve much credit for winning this four game series on the road, considering the first game was Houston’s home opener. They had to win three in a row and made it look easy. KC hasn’t lost a series that mattered since I can remember.

Next: I Love Craig Sager

Apr 2, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; TBS announcer Craig Sager at halftime in the 2016 NCAA Men /

I would like to take this opportunity to discuss Joel Goldberg’s interview with the NBA’s color announcer Craig Sager during the television broadcast. I must say that I HATE interviews of any kind during games. Of the thousand’s I’ve seen, only Whitey Herzog‘s interview was even acceptable. All of the rest were terrible.

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But I love Craig Sager.

I watched Craig cover sports on channel 9 in 1979. I did NOT know that it was because of Whitey that Craig got hired. He said “Without Whitey, I’d still be in Fort Myers, FL.”

During the World Series in Kansas City in 1985 I wondered around behind the Royals dugout with my wife, Carol. We were in the third row and most of the stadium was still empty. Craig Sager was down on the field, by himself and talking to no one. He was deep in thought, just looking around at the old stadium and reminiscing. He had left KC around 1983. I cupped my hands around my mouth and screamed loudly “Come. back. Craig!” I’ll never forget how much that made him smile. He missed us as much as we missed him. Craig is now in Houston receiving Chemo treatments and you could see the bandages and hospital wristband still on his wrist as he gave his very touching interview.

The stories Craig told Joel about Royals vp Mike “Swannee” Swanson hit home also. When they were

Mike Swanson carries WS Trophy into the K. /

roommates (according to Craig) Swannee was having trouble making rent and offered to trade his furniture for a month’s worth. According to Mike Swanson, he paid Craig for the previous month with one of his father’s sports coats. Craig’s funky clothes and sports coats would become his trademark in the future.

Who is Mike Swanson?

Here’s a photo I took just after the parade last year. The Championship trophy as it was being carried into Kauffman Stadium. By none other than the aforementioned Swannee.

Next: Royals Salvador Perez Evolving Into A Slugger

All in all, a wonderful evening for the Kansas City Royals and their loyal fans.

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