Royals: Revisiting the 2015 World Series, Game 3

The Kansas City Royals are off to a hot start in the quest for the trophy and a Game 3 win in New York would put the Mets in an almost impossible situation.

Following the dramatic five extra innings of baseball in Game 1 and Johnny Cueto‘s dominant performance in Game 2, the Kansas City Royals head to the Big Apple to see if they can make quick work of this World Series.

What awaits KC though is the pressure of playing in the large spotlight of New York. And heartbreak can occur on the Mets’ home field, just ask any Boston Red Sox fan about the ball trickling under Bill Buckner‘s glove.

Going to battle on this evening was Yordano Ventura for Kansas City and Noah Syndergaard for New York. “Ace” had started four games between the American League Divisional and Championship Series’ posting an 0-1 record with 21 strikeouts in just under 18 innings, but also with a WHIP north of 1.50. Meanwhile, “Thor” had looked very sharp in his first three playoff appearances (two starts) against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.

The lineups were pretty consistent with the first two contests with the exception of the designated hitter being out of play in the National League ballpark putting Kendrys Morales on the bench for the Kansas City Royals. Michael Conforto received the nod over Juan Lagares in the outfield for the Mets. As a nod to their last World Series team, Mike Piazza threw the ceremonial first pitch.

Syndergaard decided to let the Kansas City Royals know right off the bat that the Mets were not going to go down without a fight. Knowing the tendency of Alcides Escobar to swing at first pitches and the inside-the-park homer in Game 1, he delivered a purpose pitch. Many of the Royals players took offense to this type of baseball and with that, we are off and running in Game 3.