The Royals scored just three runs in two games, got a pair of go-ahead singles from their superstar shortstop that hardly registered on the exit-velocity scale and feature nearly a dozen players who hadn’t tasted postseason baseball until this week. Yet Kansas City did just enough to suppress the Baltimore Orioles and sweep their American League wild-card series at Camden Yards.
They will face the top-seeded New York Yankees in the best-of-five series beginning Saturday. It is a matchup rich in history: New York beat Kansas City in the 1976, ’77 and ’78 AL Championship Series before George Brett and the Royals returned the favor in 1980.
That was a few baseball generations ago. In this one, Witt may reign supreme.
Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.
He had a pair of hits Wednesday night, the latter a smash up the middle with runners at the corners and two outs in the sixth. It was speared by a diving Jordan Westburg, but the Baltimore second baseman could not get enough on the throw to retire Witt – the fastest runner in the major leagues.
‘The embodiment of our entire season is hustle and heart,’ Royals starter Seth Lugo said after the game. ‘Just really proud for him to do what he’s done all year.’
From there, it was all on the underrated Kansas City bullpen, which combined for 4 ⅔ innings of scoreless relief, with six strikeouts. Lucas Erceg capped the mastery with a scoreless ninth inning – and punched their ticket north to New York.
The Orioles won 91 games this season but were swept in their opening round playoff series for the second consecutive year. Baltimore has lost 10 consecutive playoff games dating to 2014 – when the Royals swept them in the ALCS.
Here’s how Wednesday’s game unfolded:
Royals take lead into eighth inning
Witt drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning for the second consecutive game as Kansas City took a 2-1 lead after seven innings of Game 2 of their wild-card series at Camden Yards.
After softly struck singles by Kyle Isbel and Michael Massey off Orioles lefty reliever Cionel Perez put runners at the corners, Yennier Cano replaced Perez. Witt Witt grounded a ball sharply up the middle that second baseman Jordan Westburg dived to snag. But he could not get enough on the throw to retire Witt – the fastest man in the major leagues – and the go-ahead run scored with two outs.
Kansas City relievers Angel Zerpa, John Schreiber and Sammy Long have combined for 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, with five strikeouts.
Orioles tie it up vs. Royals : 1-1 through 5
Baltimore chased Kansas City Royals starter Seth Lugo in the fifth inning of Game 2, after Cedric Mullins hit a solo home run – halting a scoreless streak that stretched to last year at 18 innings – and the club loaded the bases with nobody out, the game tied, 1-1.
But 44-homer man Anthony Santander popped up a 1-1 pitch from Lugo for one out, and then Colton Cowser swung at a ball from reliever Angel Zerpa that was so far inside, it struck him on the left wrist. What could have easily been a go-ahead hit-by-pitch instead became a strikeout, the second out of the inning.
Adley Rutschman then grounded to shortstop for the final out, ending the golden opportunity.
Lugo and Orioles starter Zach Eflin are both out of the game. Four innings of bullpen battle remains, as the Royals aim to end the series with a two-game sweep.
– Gabe Lacques
Royals take first-inning lead in Baltimore
Leadoff batter Michael Massey grounded a double down the right field line and scored on a single by recently activated Vinnie Pasquantino to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead after one inning at Camden Yards.
Starter Seth Lugo encountered a brief first-inning hiccup when he hit Jordan Westburg on the left hand with one out, but Lugo recovered to strike out Anthony Santander and Colton Cowser to end the inning.
Orioles vs Royals starting lineups for Game 2
MLB wild card predictions
Who will move on? Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports MLB team sees this week playing out.
Kansas City Royals (86-76) at Baltimore Orioles (91-71)
Bob Nightengale: Orioles in 3
Gabe Lacques: Orioles in 2
Steve Gardner: Orioles in 3
Jesse Yomtov: Orioles in 2
Scott Boeck: Orioles in 3
Detroit Tigers (86-76) at Houston Astros (88-73)
Bob Nightengale: Astros in 3
Gabe Lacques: Tigers in 2
Steve Gardner Astros in 3
Jesse Yomtov: Astros in 3
Scott Boeck: Tigers in 3
New York Mets (89-73) at Milwaukee Brewers (93-69)
Bob Nightengale: Brewers in 2
Gabe Lacques: Brewers in 2
Steve Gardner: Brewers in 2
Jesse Yomtov: Mets in 3
Scott Boeck: Brewers in 2
Atlanta Braves (89-73) at San Diego Padres (93-69)
Bob Nightengale: Padres in 2
Gabe Lacques: Padres in 2
Steve Gardner: Padres in 2
Jesse Yomtov: Braves in 3
Scott Boeck: Padres in 2
Royals passed first postseason test in Game 1 win
And for 10 Kansas City Royals whose names would dot the box score, Game 1 of their American League wild-card series was their first glimpse of postseason baseball, a battle not only against the talented Orioles but also in regulating their own emotions, calming the heart when needed and letting it rip when the situation dictated.
The youngest team in Major League Baseball passed the test like the savviest of veterans.
– Gabe Lacques
MLB playoffs bracket
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.