BALTIMORE (AP) — The Kansas City Royals prefer to simply savor their exceptional performance at Camden Yards rather than ponder the historical ramifications of where it’s gotten them.
Alcides Escobar doubled in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, Mike Moustakas extended his home run-binge and Kansas City remained perfect in the playoffs, beating the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 Saturday for a 2-0 lead in the AL Championship Series.
Now, the Royals head back to Kansas City with the knowledge that no team has ever lost a best-of-seven LCS after winning the first two games on the road.
“We don’t want to be the first team to do that,” designated hitter Billy Butler said. “That’s all I get from that.”
Lorenzo Cain had four hits, scored twice and drove in a run for the wild-card Royals, who are 6-0 in the playoffs this year, including 4-0 on the road. The Orioles hadn’t lost two in a row in Baltimore since June 28-29, but Kansas City found a way to quiet the towel-waving, screaming crowds.
“The atmosphere here is great. It didn’t affect us,” Butler said. “Now we’ll go home and see if they can play in our atmosphere.”
Moustakas homered for the fourth time in five games as the Royals won their ninth straight in the postseason, a string dating to the 1985 World Series.
“To come in here and win two games against a great team like that, it’s huge for us,” Moustakas said. “A lot of confidence going back home.”
Game 3 is Monday at Kauffman Stadium. Former Oriole Jeremy Guthrie will start for the Royals against either Wei-Yin Chen or Miguel Gonzalez.
“We know they’re a good team,” Royals closer Greg Holland said after earning his second save of the series. “You can’t really get too high on yourself.”
The Orioles and manager Buck Showalter’s team now must buck history to get Baltimore its first pennant since 1983.
“If one team can do it, it’s us,” slugger Nelson Cruz said.
“The series ain’t over,” insisted Adam Jones, who hit his first playoff home run. “If you guys (are) thinking it’s over, why are we going to show up on Monday?”
After squeezing out an 8-6 win in 10 innings on Friday night, the Royals again took apart the Baltimore bullpen with a late uprising.
With the score tied at 4 in the ninth, Omar Infante beat out an infield roller off Darren O’Day, the losing pitcher for the second straight day.
Zach Britton entered, and Moustakas laid down a bunt that moved pinch-runner Terrance Gore to second. Escobar then sliced an opposite-field grounder inside first base to bring home Gore.
Cain added an RBI single to become the only Royals player other than Hall of Famer George Brett to have a four-hit game in the postseason.
For the second time in two games, Wade Davis earned the win and Holland got three outs for the save. Holland struck out Steve Pearce with a runner on to end it.
“If you could go home 1-1, you’re going to be really, really happy,” manager Ned Yost said. “If you can go home 2-0, that’s as good as it gets.”
Baltimore’s Bud Norris allowed four runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. Royals rookie Yordano Ventura left in the sixth with tightness in his right shoulder after giving up four runs and six hits.
“He’s fine,” Yost said. “I don’t anticipate him missing this next start.”
Moustakas, the No. 9 hitter, hit a solo homer that put Kansas City up 4-3 in the fourth. Although he homered only once in the last 49 games of the regular season, Moustakas now stands tied with Willie Aikens for most homers by a Royals player in a single postseason.
“Getting good pitches to hit and not missing them,” he said. “That’s pretty much it.”
UP NEXT
Royals: Guthrie says his emotion Monday will come from competing in the playoffs, not pitching against his former team. “I think history will be put, not even on a back burner, but on some kind of … Lazy Susan or something,” said Guthrie, who’s 2-1 against Baltimore since being traded in February 2012.
Orioles: Baltimore went 46-35 on the road this season and clinched the Division Series with a 2-1 win at Detroit.
STREAKS
Royals: Kansas City began its postseason winning streak by taking three straight from St. Louis to win the 1985 World Series. The Royals beat Oakland in the wild-card game this year, then swept the Los Angeles Angels in the ALDS.
Orioles: Cruz had his sixth consecutive multihit game, the longest streak in postseason history. The run began in 2012. Also, Joseph snapped an 0-for-33 skid with his first hit since Sept. 10.
GORDON’S ENCORE
One day after going 3 for 4 with a homer and four RBIs, Kansas City’s Alex Gordon struck out four times and stranded four runners in scoring position.
He accounted for half of KC’s strikeout total.
— Associated Press —
Missouri Western junior Ryan Hand finished in a five-way tie for first place Tuesday at the MWSU/Holiday Inn Express Invitational at the St. Joseph Country Club. The Griffon golf team finished eighth overall as they shot a 616.
