Royals rally late, then rout Mets in 12th to win World Series

Crown `em, Kansas City!
One agonizing step from ecstasy last season, this time the Royals reign after their latest incredible comeback and a go-ahead hit from maybe the most unlikely player in uniform.

Christian Colon singled home the tiebreaking run in the 12th inning and those bound-and-determined Royals rallied one more time to beat the New York Mets 7-2 in 12 innings early Monday for their first World Series championship since 1985 and second overall.
Down two runs in the ninth, Kansas City fought back in Game 5 against two of the top arms on the pitching-rich Mets: Matt Harvey and Jeurys Familia. And the Royals did it not with home run power but instead a daring dash from Eric Hosmer, a three-run double by Lorenzo Cain, a couple of crucial stolen bases.

Consistent contact, keep the line moving.
And that's how Series MVP Salvador Perez and the Royals became the first team since the 2002 Angels to come from behind in all four World Series wins, according to STATS. That's how they washed away the bitter taste of last year's Game 7 loss at home to San Francisco, an October heartbreak that drove them to their singular focus all season.
Never waver. Win it all this time.
Now, this group of homegrown favorites that turned around a floundering franchise, Mike Moustakas and Alex Gordon and Hosmer, can take their place in Royals history alongside George Brett, Willie Wilson, Bret Saberhagen and those champs from 30 years ago.

World Series 2015: Mets are all Wright after David provides boost with four RBIs in Game 3

 

David Wright entered Game 3 of the World Series hitting .171/.320/.220 for the playoffs, with 14 strikeouts in 41 at-bats and only two extra-base hits the entire postseason. After having worked so hard to come back from spinal stenosis and contribute to New York’s surge to the National League East title, it was fair to wonder whether he might be running out of gas.
Wright provided an answer to those concerns Friday night. His timing could not have been better, because with the Mets down two games to the Royals, they needed a spark, lest they be pushed to the brink of elimination.

After 1,546 regular-season games for the Mets and 21 more in the playoffs, Wright finally got to play in a World Series game in New York for the first time in his career. He hit a two-run homer in his first at-bat to put the Mets ahead and ripped a two-run single in the sixth to break open what became a 9-3 rout.

Wright, Granderson HR, Mets beat Royals, trail 2-1 in Series

 
Two balls launched over the wall, one fired over an opponent's head and just like that, David Wright and the New York Mets are right back in this World Series.
Wright homered and drove in four runs, Curtis Granderson also connected and rookie Noah Syndergaard set a nasty tone at the start of a 9-3 victory against the Kansas City Royals that trimmed New York's deficit to 2-1 Friday night.

"We get our offense going a little bit, we play better baseball," Mets manager Terry Collins said.
Shut down at the plate in Kansas City, the Mets broke loose with 12 hits from nine different players as they chased Yordano Ventura early during the first Series game at Citi Field.
Pitching on Halloween eve, Syndergaard recovered from a scary start and went six innings, giving the Mets the winning performance they didn't get from fellow young starters Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom at Kauffman Stadium.

Cueto leads Royals to rout of Mets, 2-0 lead

 

Following the final out, after Johnny Cueto completed his two-hitter, several hundred fans remained in Kauffman Stadium, wanting one more look at the Kansas City Royals.
The next time they see Eric Hosmer and his teammates may be in a parade.
After smothering the Mets 7-1 Wednesday night with Cueto and their pesky offense, the Royals have a 2-0 World Series lead and can capture their first title since 1985 when play resumes at New York's Citi Field this weekend.

BOX SCORE:  ROYALS 7, METS 1
Rather than look ahead and anticipate a celebration, Hosmer thought back to Kansas City's crushing seven-game loss to the Giants in 2014.
"There's still a lot of work yet to do," he said. "Last year we took a 2-1 lead in San Francisco and were feeling pretty good about ourselves."
Kansas City wore down Jacob deGrom with persistence and prowess, then pounced. Hosmer hit a tiebreaking, two-run single with two outs in a four-run fifth inning that included 14 foul balls.
Nineteen hours after Hosmer's sacrifice fly won a 14-inning thriller, Cueto varied his delivery with occasional quick pitches and kept the Mets off balance. An excited crowd stood on its feet for long stretches to cheer on the rainy night. Some fans wore wigs resembling Cueto's long, dark dreadlocks -- including the Royals' mascot, Slugerrr.

Looking back at the crazy ending to Royals-Blue Jays ALCS Game 6

Friday night, the Royals beat the Blue Jays in Game 6 of the ALCS (KC 4, TOR 3) to win their second consecutive AL pennant. They won the best-of-seven series four games to two and will take on the Mets in the World Series starting Tuesday. Yes, Tuesday.
The last six outs of Game 6 -- that covers the bottom of the eighth and top of the ninth -- were rather chaotic and action-packed. The Royals took an early lead but the Blue Jays battled back thanks to a pair of Jose Bautista home runs, including a game-tying two-run shot off Ryan Madson in the top of the eighth. Here's a breakdown of those final six outs.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH INNING
Let's set the scene: the score was tied 3-3 thanks to Bautista's home run, and a 45-minute rain delay had just ended. The umpire crew called for the tarp quickly, so it didn't take the grounds crew long to get the field ready. Now let's recap how the Royals took the lead, piece by piece.
John Gibbons went to his closer in the eighth inning.

Following the rain delay, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons went right to closer Roberto Osuna with the score tied 3-3 in the eighth inning. He didn't wait for the ninth inning or a save situation that may or may not come. Gibbons went to his best arm against the middle of the Royals lineup in a win or go home game. It seems like an obvious move, but boy, too many managers these days save their closer for the ninth inning because it's their inning. (Or worse, save him for a save situation on the road.)
Cain took a great pitch to draw a leadoff walk in the eighth.
Osuna started the eighth inning by walking Lorenzo Cain on seven pitches. It was a phenomenal at-bat by Cain, who fouled off some tough fastballs and took some nasty sliders off the plate. Look at this slidepiece he took in a 3-2 count for ball four:

Michigan punter explains why he didn't fall on botched punt

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Blake O'Neill is shrugging off the fact that perhaps millions of people probably didn't know who he was last week.

"I'm happy to play for Michigan football," the punter said Tuesday night. "You choose to play at the college level, you take the good and the bad."
O'Neill bobbled a low snap, fumbled the ball away and Jalen Watts-Jackson was in the perfect position to return the football 38 yards to give Michigan State a stunning 27-23 win over the Wolverines at the Big House on Saturday.
What were the 72 hours like after the botched punt, a play that has been replayed, reviewed and scrutinized?

"It's been very interesting, that's for sure," O'Neill said. "There's been a lot of support from the Michigan fan base, from teammates and even people back home. It's funny that a game here can get all the way to Australia, but it did."

Opinion: Not a Cubs curse, just a collapse

CHICAGO -- Don’t you dare blame a billy goat, black cat or a beleaguered fan for the Chicago Cubs’ latest misfortune. 

This one falls solely on the Cubs, every bit of it. One lousy, mental meltdown of an inning, and their postseason futility is all but ensured of being extended for yet another year. 

Kazmir puts struggles behind, sets Astros up

After rough stretch to end regular season, lefty exits with lead in sixth inning of Game 2

KANSAS CITY -- No short leash was needed for Scott Kazmir on Friday. The veteran left-hander, acquired at the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline to help the Astros get into the postseason and beyond, left behind his second-half struggles and pitched into the sixth inning for the first time since Sept. 14.
Kazmir exited with one out in the sixth inning clinging to a two-run lead, having given his club as much as it could've hoped for in Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Royals, before Kansas City scored twice in the frame en route to a 5-4 comeback victory.

• Shop for Astros postseason gear

Game	Date	Time	Matchup/Result	TV
Gm 1	Oct. 8		HOU 5, KC 2
Gm 2	Oct. 9		KC 5, HOU 4
Gm 3	Oct. 11	4 p.m. ET	KC @ HOU	MLBN
Gm 4	Oct. 12	1 p.m. ET	KC @ HOU	FS1
*Gm 5	Oct. 14	8 p.m. ET	HOU @ KC	FS1

Mets vs. Dodgers Game 1: Live NLDS Score and Highlights

Behind a brilliant outing from Jacob deGrom, the New York Mets opened their first postseason appearance in nine years with a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, taking Game 1 of the National League Division Series.

Tasked with matching Clayton Kershaw whiff for whiff, deGrom tossed seven shutout innings, compiling 13 strikeouts and no unintentional walks. Kershaw registered 11 strikeouts, but manager Don Mattingly pulled him in a 1-0 game after walking the bases loaded during a shaky seventh inning. David Wright promptly spiked a two-run double off of reliever Pedro Baez to give New York the deciding two runs.

Dominant Jacob deGrom sets tone for Mets pitching staff in NLDS

 

Jacob deGrom pitches a gem for the Mets in Game 1 vs. the Dodgers.

LOS ANGELES - For all the talk about the Mets' young fireballers, nobody knew how their stuff and command and poise would hold up on the post-season stage, especially given the imposing task of matching up with the Dodgers' Cy Young winners.
So in outpitching Clayton Kershaw in Game 1, Jacob deGrom not only delivered a spectacular performance but perhaps set a tone for his fellow starters and, for that matter, this entire Mets' team that is rather new to October baseball.

In a sense he sent the message: we're for real.
"For a team that hasn't been to the post-season in a long time,'' said Terry Collins, "we needed that type of confidence boost. Jake gave us a huge lift.''
It remains to be seen if Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, and perhaps Steven Matz can follow his lead, but with a 13-strikeout performance and a 3-1 win over the Dodgers, deGrom quickly put the Mets in a great position, giving them a chance to win this five-game series at home no matter what happens in Game 2.

New York at Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Dodgers have baseball's best one-two punch in a starting rotation, but the New York Mets are looking to deliver a crucial blow to take a commanding lead in this NL division series.
After Jacob deGrom outpitched Clayton Kershaw in a sterling performance, Noah Syndergaard may need to do the same opposite Zack Greinke on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.

Los Angeles' starters finished the regular season with a 3.24 ERA to rank second in the majors and a lot of the credit goes to having Kershaw and Greinke (19-3, 1.66 ERA) at the front of the rotation.
Their importance to the Dodgers is obvious as they're contemplating bringing back Kershaw - the reigning NL Cy Young winner and MVP - on three days' rest for a potential Game 4 in New York.
The ace, however, lost his fifth straight postseason start Friday when the Mets beat the Dodgers 3-1 in Game 1. DeGrom tossed seven scoreless innings and matched Tom Seaver's postseason franchise record of 13 strikeouts from 1973.

Aces wild: Playoffs open with Astros-Yankees, Cubs-Pirates

Dallas Keuchel started the All-Star game, won 20 times and twice dominated the New York Yankees.
Now, the Houston Astros need him to pitch the game of his life -- while starting on three days' rest for the first time in his career.
All of the Major League Baseball playoff matchups were set Sunday on a final day of the regular season mostly devoid of drama. The Texas Rangers helped locked in the pairings by routing the Los Angeles Angels to win the AL West.

The real intrigue begins Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. That's when the postseason opens with Keuchel and the Astros taking on New York ace Masahiro Tanaka in the AL wild-card game.
On Wednesday night, 22-game winner Jake Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs -- still trying for their first World Series championship since 1908 -- visit 19-game winner Gerrit Cole and the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL wild-card matchup.
"We're going to the `Burgh," first-year manager Joe Maddon said after the Cubs beat Milwaukee 3-1 for their eighth straight win.

Boston Red Sox - PlayerWatch

LHP Rich Hill allowed five runs in 29 innings (1.55 ERA) during his four late-season starts for the Red Sox. He also struck out 36 hitters and allowed no runs in 26 of his innings. He made a quality start Thursday in a loss to the Yankees, giving up two runs in six innings. SS Xander Bogaerts is tied with Houston's Jose Altuve for the American League lead in hits with 194. Bogaerts is bidding to become the third Red Sox player in the last 18 years to lead the league in hits. The other two are Adrian Gonzalez (2011) and Dustin Pedroia (2008).
RF Rusney Castillo returned to the lineup after missing the previous three games with an upper right quad strain. He finished 0-for-4 but also made a perfect throw from right field to prevent Yankees OF Chris Young from scoring in the fourth inning.

Chili Davis a big hit with Red Sox offense Offense 3rd best in majors

HAVING A BASH: David Ortiz celebrates with Xander Bogaerts after homering during last night’s game in Cleveland. The Red Sox, despite finishing out of the playoffs for the second year in a row, have enjoyed a resurgence on offense in the second half of the 2015 season under hitting coach Chili Davis.

 

Ultimately, it wasn’t the first season in Boston that hitting coach Chili Davis longed for.

Davis has two World Series rings he earned while playing with the New York Yankees in 1998 and ’99. He really wants another one.
“More than one,” he said yesterday. “I’d like to be here for a while because I think we have a core group of guys here that can really bring some excitement to Boston.”
There might be uncertainty within the coaching staff since there’s a new boss in town, but why wouldn’t the Red Sox want Davis back again next year? They lured him away from the Oakland A’s and had to fight the Yankees for his services last offseason. And he’s been everything they could’ve asked for.

Bumgarner, Giants watch Dodgers clinch West on their field

This clincher took place in the other clubhouse at AT&T Park, and that was a strange sight for Madison Bumgarner and the World Series champions who won’t get their chance to defend.

“You take that, and you remember that feeling going into the offseason. It’s not a good feeling,” he said. “You don’t want to be a part of that. You want to be the one celebrating. You let it give you a little bit of fuel for next year.”

Bumgarner was outdone by Clayton Kershaw this time, and the rival Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their third straight NL West title with an 8-0 victory Tuesday night that eliminated the Giants from playoff contention.
The big lefty had been 2-0 with a 1.31 ERA in his previous 2015 outings opposing Kershaw, who had gone 0-2 with a 3.54 ERA in those starts. This time, Bumgarner even fought to get Kershaw out during a 13-pitch at-bat in the fifth when the opposing lefty finally grounded out.

Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers make franchise history with third straight title

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Clayton Kershaw lingered on the field a few moments longer than the rest of his Los Angeles teammates, then looked up at the cheering fans in Dodger Blue, smiled and tipped his cap before quickly disappearing into the dugout and heading off to celebrate.
Kershaw pitched the big-money Dodgers to their third straight National League West title, tossing a one-hitter as Los Angeles beat Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants 8-0 on Tuesday night.

Kershaw allowed just a third-inning single and struck out 13, and now he'll get a chance to erase those sour postseason memories as the Dodgers (88-69) advance to face the NL East champion New York Mets in a best-of-five division series.
"I've been through it now a bunch; I think this is my fifth postseason now," Kershaw said. "I don't know if you can get wiser from failing all the time. I know what that feels like."

Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper brawls with closer Jonathan Papelbon in dugout

Sept. 27, 2015: Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper and Jonathan Papelbon fight in the dugout in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Washington. (Jonathan Newton(/The Washington Post via AP)

WASHINGTON –  National League MVP front-runner Bryce Harper and teammate Jonathan Papelbon got into a fight during a game Sunday, when a Washington Nationals season that long ago spiraled out of control on the field did so in the dugout.

After a flyout in the eighth inning of what became a 12-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, Harper headed to the dugout, where he and Papelbon, the team's closer, exchanged words. The argument escalated, and Papelbon reached out with his left hand and grabbed Harper by the throat.
Papelbon then shoved the outfielder toward the bench with both hands, before teammates pulled the pair apart.
"I mean, he apologized, so, whatever," Harper said with a shrug afterward in the clubhouse, messy smears of eyeblack on his cheeks. "I really don't care."
Asked whether he had tangled with a teammate before, Harper responded: "Usually fighting the other team."

Wright: Mets' celebration 'long time coming'

Enough smoke filled the visiting clubhouse at Great American Ball Park to cast a haze over the entire room. In one corner, Wilmer Flores stood, a beer in his left hand and a cigar in his right, soaking in the scene. In the center, Yoenis Cespedes climbed atop a podium, jabbering into a television camera. Down a hallway, dozens of empty champagne bottles lay stacked against a wall. Various Mets milled about, clutching cellphones and snapping pictures. The air was thick with smoke and noise.

At one point, the newly crowned National League East champions, by virtue of their 10-2 win Saturday over the Reds, spilled back onto the field. It was not their own ballpark, but good enough for the business at hand; scores of Mets fans, many having traversed the several hundred miles between Cincinnati and New York, awaited. Flores held up a makeshift championship banner, lifting ski goggles above his eyes. Flanked by family, David Wright saluted a crowd that was chanting his name.

Mets clinch first NL East title and postseason berth since 2006

For the first time since 2006, the Mets are heading to the postseason. The team clinched their first NL East title s
ince that 2006 season with Saturday's win over the Reds (NYM 10, CIN 2). They would have clinched with a Nationals loss as well, but the Mets took care of business themselves. New York is now 88-67 overall.
The Mets went 97-65 in 2006, won the division by 12 games, and looked like a perennial contender thanks to prime-age veterans like Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran, as well as a pair of impressive 23-year-olds named David Wright and Jose Reyes. The 2006 season was supposed to be only the start for the Mets.

Price pitches 7 shutout innings, Jays beat Yankees 4-2

David Price got the Blue Jays off to a winning start in Toronto's most important series of the season.Price pitched seven shutout innings, Jose Bautista had two hits and the Blue Jays used a three-run first inning to beat the New York Yankees 4-2 on Monday night.
Price improved to 8-1 in 10 starts with Toronto since being acquired in a July 30 trade with Detroit.

• The Blue Jays ace pitched his team to a big win over the Yankees. We take a look at what's worked best for him in Toronto.

"Unbelievable," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Trades don't always work out right. This one has worked out right."
Toronto stretched its lead in the AL East to 3 1-2 games in the opener of a three-game showdown between the division's top teams.
With 13 games remaining, Yankees manager Joe Girardi didn't downplay the importance of the final two games of the series.

"I think they're as important as any games we've played all year when you talk about trying to win the division," Girardi said.
The Blue Jays snapped a two-game losing streak, avoiding their first three-game skid since July 8-10.
Facing the Yankees for the fourth time since joining the Blue Jays, Price improved to 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA against New York with Toronto.