Royals take World Series crown with epic 12-inning Game 5 win
NEW YORK – Breaking down Game 5 of the World Series from Citi Field between the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets:
Royals 7, Mets 2 (12 innings), Royals win series 4-1.
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The final: The Royals once again pulled out their late-inning magic, scoring twice in the ninth inning to tie the game and then exploding for five runs in the 12th to secure their first World Series title since 1985.
With Mets starter Matt Harvey looking dominant through the first eight innings, Kansas City broke through in the ninth against Harvey and closer Jeurys Familia. Then in the top of the 12th, pinch-hitter Christian Colon’s one-out single scored pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson from third base for the go-ahead run. Kansas City added four more runs in the inning on doubles by Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain.
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Harvey allowed four hits over eight innings, struck out nine and was in line for the win, but the Royals scored twice in the top of the ninth to send the game to extra innings.
Kansas City’s Edinson Volquez nearly matched Harvey, yielding just one hit – Curtis Granderson’s leadoff homer – through the first five innings before giving up an unearned run in the sixth.
Royals' Edinson Volquez gives up leadoff home run to start Game 5
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State of the Series: Ever since falling short in Game 7 of last year’s World Series, the Royals had pointed toward getting back to the Fall Classic – and then winning it. In three of their four wins against the Mets, the Royals came from behind in the late innings to turn defeat into victory.
They practiced the “keep-the-line-moving” mentality to perfection, stringing together hits when they needed them most, especially in the Game 5 clincher.
And, unlike the Mets, the Royals bullpen was rock-solid for the entire series. Kelvin Herrera pitched three shutout innings after Volquez exited.
Royals catcher Salvador Perez won the Series MVP.
Nightengale: Royals find fitting end to World Series title
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Manager's special I: Mets skipper Terry Collins may have managed with his heart over his head when he allowed Harvey to return to the mound in the ninth inning. Harvey was already at 102 pitches through eight innings, but had retired 18 of his last 21 batters.
With Familia warming in the bullpen, Harvey walked leadoff hitter Lorenzo Cain, who promptly stole second base.
Collins stuck with Harvey against Hosmer, who was representing the tying run. The Royals’ RBI leader in the playoffs collected his 17th when he doubled into the left field corner.
Familia came into the game, but was unable to nail down the save.
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Game 5 pivot point: The Royals successfully foiled save opportunities for Mets closer Jeurys Familia in Games 1 and 4. Doing it a third time against a closer who had a 1.85 ERA during the regular season with 43 saves in 48 chances seemed to be too much to ask.
But the relentless Royals did it again with the tying run at second base and no outs – in typical Royals fashion. Eric Hosmer moved to third base on a ground out and in perhaps the signature Royals play of the Series tied the game on a ball that never left the infield.
With the Mets infield playing in to cut off the run, Salvador Perez hit an easy grounder to third. As David Wright threw to first for the out, Hosmer sprinted to the plate and scored the tying run as the relay from first baseman Lucas Duda sailed wide.
Royals stage epic rally in ninth inning of Game 5 of World Series
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Needing a mulligan: Hosmer could have been the goat had the Mets been able to close out the win in regulation. The two-time Gold Glove award winner misplayed a sharp grounder off the bat of Daniel Murphy with two on and no one out in the bottom of the sixth. Hosmer tried to backhand the ball but it went off his glove and bounced away in the infield to load the bases. To be fair, it wasn’t a routine play, even though Hosmer was charged with an error.
After Yoenis Cespedes hit an infield popup, Lucas Duda delivered a sacrifice fly to deep center that scored what turned out to be an unearned run that put the Mets up 2-0.
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Manager's special II: Royals manager Ned Yost went “by the book” in the bottom of the fifth inning when he called for an intentional walk of No. 8 hitter Wilmer Flores with a runner on second and two outs.
The move brought up the pitcher’s spot and Harvey predictably made the third out on a ground ball to shortstop.
While the move worked out, Flores may have been just as easy an out. He entered Game 5 with eight hits in 37 playoff at-bats (.216) and a .310 on-base percentage.
The downside of the decision to walk Flores is that it kept Harvey from leading off the next inning.
The Royals could have used that out to start the sixth because the Mets scored their second run on a Lucas Duda sacrifice fly on what could have been the third out.
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Man of the moment: Despite the Royals comeback effort, Harvey may have pitched the game of his life. All the talk about innings limits, the stability of his surgically repaired elbow and his off-field activities were all secondary to his dominant performance in the World Series spotlight.
The Dark Knight was a different pitcher than the one who showed up for Game 1. He missed bats frequently, touched 98 mph with his fastball and – for eight innings -- overpowered the Royals’ high-contact lineup, one that had the highest batting average in the majors on pitches 95 mph and above this season.
Harvey’s signature moment came in the fourth inning, when facing the heart of the Royals order he struck out, in order, Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas – all swinging. The only other Mets pitcher to strike out the side in a World Series: Hall of Famer Tom Seaver.
Just for good measure, Harvey struck out the side again in the fifth and continued to dominate until giving up a walk and an RBI double to start the ninth. In all, Harvey threw 111 pitches, 76 of them for strikes.
Matt Harvey comes out firing 98-mph heat in Game 5 start
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What you missed on TV: The Citi Field record crowd of 44,859 waited with tense anticipation when the Mets came out for the top of the ninth inning, wondering whether Harvey would be allowed to go for the complete game.
They chanted “HAR-VEY! HAR-VEY!” in unison for what seemed like an eternity before Harvey sprinted from the dugout to take his warmup pitches, causing another eruption of cheers.
As loud as the crowd was, it was equally silent when Harvey exited just two batters later.
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