Orioles manager Buck Showalter correctly predicted how his club would get out of a ninth-inning jam against the Tigers to advance to the ALCS. Now Royals manager Ned Yost has taken his turn as a seer, envisioning his club’s eventual victory over the O’s in Game 2 of the ALCS.
Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star with the details:Inside the Royals dugout, as the temperature descended and 40,000 orange towels whipped around Camden Yards, manager Ned Yost became clairvoyant.
He pulled shortstop Alcides Escobar aside. Escobar was scheduled to bat third in the top of the ninth against Baltimore, and Yost wanted to share his vision.
Here is what will happen, Yost told him. Omar Infante will lead off with a hit. Yost will insert pinch runner Terrance Gore. Mike Moustakas will lay down a bunt. And then Escobar will record the hit that wins the Royals the second game of the American League Championship Series.
“Great plan,” Escobar replied.
So, what happened? Omar Infante singled to shallow right field. Terrence Gore pinch-ran for Infante and advanced to second base on a Mike Moustakas sacrifice bunt. And then Escobar pushed a ground ball down the right field line for a tie-breaking RBI double. The Royals tacked on one more run before the inning was over, and Greg Holland set the Orioles down in the bottom half to secure the Royals’ second victory in two ALCS games.
