Just like all season, Royals prevail the hard way in Game 1 of ALDS

By foxsports
Published

Once again, the most resilient team perhaps in baseball fought through adversity and prevailed as the Royals topped the Angels, 3-2, in 11 innings in Game 1 of the AL Division Series in Anaheim, Calif.

The Royals led 1-0 and 2-1 but had to hold off several challenges from the No. 1 seed, the Angels, before Mike Moustakas, hitting ninth, belted a homer in the top of the 11th.

"I was just trying to make good contact there," Moustakas told the TBS postgame show.

The homer gave Kansas City a 3-2 lead, and closer Greg Holland, who had to rush back to California from North Carolina after his wife delivered their first child, mowed down the Angels in the bottom of the 11th.

"Our (relievers) were just phenomenal," Moustakas said.

The Royals now will take a one-game lead into Game 2 with the Angels on Friday night as Yordano Ventura takes the mound.

3 UP

-- Defense. Center fielder Lorenzo Cain made two great catches to save potential runs, but it was right fielder Nori Aoki's stab in the seventh with the lead run on that really saved the Royals. A deep drive headed toward the right-center field wall was picked off by Aoki, reaching toward Cain, to save the game at the time. Cain made another huge catch early to potentially take a run away from the Angels. 

Watch the Boulevard Royals Live postgame show on FOX Sports Kansas City after every Kansas City Royals postseason game.

-- Game savers. With runners on first and second and the winning run in scoring position in the ninth, reliever Jason Frasor got Chris Iannetta to ground out to end the threat. "Our bullpen was just fantastic tonight," Moustakas said.

-- Duffy to the rescue. Danny Duffy, whom we thought was lost because of injury (shoulder) the last few games, suddenly reappeared in the bottom of the 10th. Mike Trout got on a with a fielder's choice with one out, but Duffy responded by getting Albert Pujols to pop up and by striking out Howie Kendrick.

3 DOWN

-- Injury. Kelvin Herrera, a critically valuable part of the pen, came out after facing just one hitter in the seventh. He apparently injured his forearm and could not continue. He is too valuable to lose, so we'll see Friday how serious the injury is.

-- None. Why complain any more about getting to the ALDS and winning Game 1?

You can follow Jeffrey Flanagan on Twitter at @jflanagankc or email him at jeffreyflanagan6@gmail.com.