KC Royals Wild Card Win Transformed Franchise Two Years Ago

The Rally Continues

Instead, Lorenzo Cain slapped a sharp grounder up the middle to score Escobar. And then, the crowd woke up. Billy Butler entered the on deck circle as the potential tying run. Eric Hosmer stood at the plate, and a comeback stopped seeming impossible.

Hosmer drove a grounder down the first base line that glanced off the glove of Oakland first baseman Stephen Vogt. KC first base coach Rusty Kuntz emphatically pointed fair as the ball passed Vogt. But, Kauffman Stadium’s roar turned into boos as the first base umpire ruled foul. Eric Hosmer pointed inside the line and then pointed at his eyes while looking at the umpire. It felt like the A’s had dodged a bullet.

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Then Lorenzo Cain stole second accompanied by a jubilant roar from the home crowd. The tide had turned and everyone had sensed it. The Kansas City Royals were the hunters, and the Oakland A’s were their prey. Hosmer, who was still at the plate, walked.

Jon Lester Departs

Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin then relieved starter Jon Lester in favor of Luke Gregerson with one out in the eighth. But, he couldn’t stop the rally. Billy Butler smacked a single into the right-center gap to score Lorenzo Cain and move Hosmer to third.

Now the score was 7-5 as the Kauffman Stadium crowd celebrated. Pinch runner Terrance Gore, a 5’7″ speedster who had been called up from AA NW Arkansas just to run, stole second to put the tying run in scoring position.

At this point, the fans were standing at Kauffman Stadium and cheering every pitch.