Billy Butler describes the team: “25 guys as one”

AP Wire and Andrew Lynch

11 years ago

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lorenzo Cain looped a two-run single and Eric Hosmer chopped a two-run double over shortstop in a seven-run second inning as the Kansas City Royals battered the San Francisco Giants 10-0 Tuesday night to force a decisive Game 7 in the World Series. “That was a huge inning for us, that turned things around, guys just stepped up and started swinging the bat. You know, everyone got some clutch hits during that inning, like I say, guys just stepped up and I’m happy we were able to get that beginning,” Cain said of the second inning.

Postgame interview with Mike Moustakas after the Royals win in Game 6.

In the seventh inning, Mike Moustakas hit the first home run of the series since Game 2, which was also his franchise-record fifth homer of the postseason. Willie Mays Aikens tweeted a congratulations to Moustakas. “Congraulation to Mike Moustakas for breaking my postseason home run record for the Royals. Way to go Moose. Keep it up Brother,” Aikens said. “”It feels good. I’d rather trade it for a ring though, A World Series ring any day. We gotta go out there and play hard tomorrow and go get a W again,” Moustakas said. Pitching with the initials of late St. Louis outfielder Oscar Taveras on his cap, 23-year-old rookie Yordano Ventura allowed three hits over seven innings for his first Series win. Ventura said he’s grieving the loss of his friend, but knows he’d proud of his performance in Game 6. “If he was still here, I would for sure be talking to him, and Oscar would be very happy for me and very proud. Oscar was a very humble guy and very likeable, and I’m going to miss him a lot. I’m grieving and I want to send my best thoughts to his family,” Ventura said. A sharp Ventura was aided by the offense that scored as many runs in that second inning as the team did in games 3-5 in San Francisco. In that second inning, the Royals sent 11 batters to the plate, which lasted more than 30 minutes and ended with seven runs. Among them: Billy Butler, who sat on the bench in San Francisco. He doubled to right-center to make it 7-0. “Everyone in here’s fightin’ for each other next to him. I think that’s what makes us a dangerous team. I think that’s the reason we’re where we’re at. We have the extremely high confidence in the guy next to them and we’re out there playing for each other. Twenty-five guys as one,” Butler said. Left fielder Alex Gordon was impressed with the way the team carried itself following the losses in Games 4 and 5. “I loved the clubhouse today. I came in, it felt like a regular season game, no pressure, everybody was pretty loose. I think it kind of showed out there today, so I was really proud of how we handled ourselves today, it was a good game,” Gordon said. Jeremy Guthrie starts Wednesday night for Kansas City and Tim Hudson for San Francisco in a rematch of Game 3, won by Kansas City 3-2. The 39-year-old Hudson will become the oldest Game 7 starter in Series history. Lurking is Madison Bumgarner, ready to pitch in relief after stifling the Royals on a total of one run in winning Games 1 and 5. Regardless of who is on the mound, first baseman Eric Hosmer says he’s ready for the moment. “It’s Game 7, it’s everything on the line and this is what we all prepare for, this is why you play the game,” he said.

11 years ago

Blanco is blown away by Collins and the Royals force a World Series Game 7 with a 10-0 win over the San Francisco Giants.

11 years ago

Matt Duffy strikes out, and the Giants are down to their last out in Game 6.

11 years ago

Morse pops out for the first out of the inning. Juan Perez follows with a single.

11 years ago

Tim Collins in to relieve Frasor. Royals on their way to a big win tonight, and not having to go to Herrera, Davis and Holland makes it a little sweeter.

11 years ago

Billy Butler grounds into a double play to end the inning. Giants last at-bats upcoming in the ninth.

11 years ago

Vogelsong strikes out Hosmer for the first out of the inning.

11 years ago

Lorenzo Cain draws a walk, adding to a great night at the plate for him, going 2/3 with two walk and 3 RBI, has a chance to score his second run if he can come around.

11 years ago

Game 4 starter Ryan Vogelsong on to pitch in relief for the Giants in Game 6.

11 years ago

Belt strikes out on a sharp slider from Frasor, and the Giants continue to post goose eggs on the scoreboard. Moving to the bottom of the eighth, Royals lead 10-0.

11 years ago

Pence hits towering pop up for the second out of the inning. Belt up for San Francisco.

11 years ago

Sandoval smacks a single to right, Panik to second and Pence up to the plate.

11 years ago

Backup catcher Andrew Susac drives a ball to center that Dyson tracks down for the first out of the inning.

11 years ago

Panik with a rude welcome for Jason Frasor, singles up the middle and the Giants leadoff man is on for the first time in Game 6.

11 years ago

Escobar and Dyson are retired to end the seventh inning, but the Royals lead 10-0. Jason Frasor will replace Yordano Ventura on the mound.

11 years ago

Infante pops out for the first out of the inning. Moustakas’ home was his fifth of the postseason.

11 years ago

Mike Moustakas goes yard to give the Royals a 10-0 lead in the seventh inning.

11 years ago

Blanco pops out in foul territory to end the Giants turn in the seventh. Yordano Ventura has thrown 7 scoreless innings. He’s up to 100 pitches, and with Jason Frasor warming in the bullpen may be finished for the night.

11 years ago

Crawford singles for the first Giants hit since a Belt infield single in the fourth. Giants have two on and two out for the top of the order and Gregor Blanco.

11 years ago

Ventura falls behind 3-0 to Ishikawa and can’t work his way back, allowing his fifth walk of the night.

11 years ago

Ventura dials up triple digits to get a Morse ground out. Ishikawa up with two outs and nobody on.

11 years ago

Ventura continues to cruise, drops a changeup on Belt that gets popped out to right for the first out of the inning. Ventura still working on a two-hitter.

11 years ago

The duel between Strickland and Perez is anti-climactic with Perez grounding out on the first pitch to short. Royals go to the seventh ahead of the Giants 9-0

11 years ago

Butler walk is erased by a hard-hit double play ball by Gordon. Panik had him played perfectly and the Giants turn the twin killing.

11 years ago

Hunter Strickland in to pitch for the Giants, he’s already had a memorable time at Kauffman Stadium this World Series, but down 9-0 this situation is decidedly less important than it was in Game 2.

11 years ago

Ventura with a nifty play in the field, and even better leg kick, to snag a grounder Pence and tosses to first to end the inning.

11 years ago

Ventura gets Panik and Posey in short order, but Sandoval draw the fourth walk for the Giants tonight to bring up Pence.

11 years ago

Aoki out, Dyson now playing center, Cain in right entering the sixth inning with Ventura still on the mound.