The Kansas City Royals’ never-say-die attitude kept them alive throughout the postseason, and it helped them wrap up their first World Series title since 1985 with a 7-2 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday.
Another come-from-behind victory in Game 5—their eighth of the postseason—gave them a 4-1 series win over New York.
The Royals again defied reality, taking a 3-2 lead on a pinch-hit RBI single from the seldom-used Christian Colon in the top of the 12th inning. In fact, it was his first at-bat of the postseason. Here’s the game-winner, via the Royals’ Twitter account:
Some aggressive baserunning from first baseman Eric Hosmer tied the game up in the ninth after the Royals entered the inning down 2-0:
The heads-up play came after Mets starter Matt Harvey shut out the Royals through eight innings, then talked his way back onto the mound for the ninth before walking leadoff hitter Lorenzo Cain. Per baseball writer Molly Knight, Kansas City had a slim chance to win heading into the inning:
When the Royals took the lead on Colon’s hit, Kansas City’s Power and Light District was ready to celebrate a title:
When the Royals notched the final out, the celebration was on:
Any World Series win is great, but this one was historic, per Fox Sports Live:
The Royals’ most historic player enjoyed watching the team win its first title since he helped clinch one 30 years ago, per CBS Sports:
Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez has made a living out of giving Gatorade baths to his teammates after victories, and he wasn’t letting manager Ned Yost get away from him tonight, per the Royals’ Twitter account:
Perez can do more than celebrate, though. He can play the game, too. The 25-year-old earned 2015 World Series MVP honors. He was all smiles when Fox Sports’ Erin Andrews presented him the trophy, per MLB on Twitter:
He was giving out hugs, too, and an extra-special one for Game 5 starting pitcher Edinson Volquez, whose father passed away on the same day he pitched Game 1, per the Royals’ Twitter account:
It’s one thing to celebrate on the field, but there was a bigger party in the clubhouse, as the Royals showed everyone:
It’s been 30 years in the making, but this win must feel good for the Royals, who came within 90 feet of tying the Giants in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series.
There is no reason to think this team won’t make a run at a third straight World Series appearance in 2016. It will have some decisions to make in the offseason, such as whether to make a run at re-signing midseason acquisition Johnny Cueto. Kansas City may also have to choose between Ben Zobrist and Alex Gordon.
For now, though, it’s all about 2015 and the franchise’s second World Series crown, per MLB’s Twitter account:
This win is a tribute to the players, Yost and upper management, especially general manager Dayton Moore. Yost was complimentary of Moore even before the Royals took the crown.
“He’s filled this team with a bunch of tremendous athletes with tremendous character and a will to win,” Yost said Thursday.
He has, and now all the hard work is paying off.
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