ALDS Game 1, Royals vs Angels final score: Mike Moustakas powers Royals past Angels, 3-2

Kansas City Royals’ third baseman Mike Moustakas has plenty of talent. Formerly a top prospect for the Royals, Moustakas has struggled to consistently produce at the big league level, but talent has never been the issue. Moustakas showed that talent on Thursday night, scoring two runs and hitting the winning home run as the Royals shocked the Angels with a 3-2 win in 11 innings.

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From the 5th inning until the winning run crossed the plate, the score remained tied at 2-2 with little offense to be found. For Kansas City’s part, they were held hitless from the 5th inning until the 11th. All of that changed when Moustakas went deep off Fernando Salas to lead off the top of the 11th inning.

To further illustrate how unsteady Moustakas’ season has been, consider this tidbit.

To say Moustakas was an unexpected hero would be to understate the situation in a significant way.

One of the biggest stories of this game ended up being the outfield defense for the Kansas City Royals. Both teams entered extra innings with only two runs on three hits, but the Angels threatened to score more often. In more than one instance it looked like the Angels had the big hit, only to have a spectacular play in the outfield spoil the rally.

Lorenzo Cain made an outstanding leaping catch at the wall early in this game. Then it was Nori Aoki coming through with spectacular catches on the warning track to end the 6th and 7th innings, with Angels’ runners on base in both cases.

As for the runs that did cross the plate, the Royals started the scoring off in this one with a two-out rally. Moustakas worked a walk and scored on a Alcides Escobar double.

Jason Vargas retired the first eight batters he saw for the Royals. It was at that point, however, that he left a pitch up to Chris Iannetta. The Angels’ catcher might not be a household name, but he has the power to make a pitcher pay for a mistake and he did just that, tying the game up at 1-1 with a solo home run. David Freese would later add another solo home run for the Angels.

Jered Weaver surrendered just two runs in seven innings of work this game. He struck out six and walked two hitters.

The Angels rode their star players to the playoffs, but the mighty heart of their order let them down on this night. Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, and Howie Kendrick combined to go 0-for-13 in this game with a couple walks.

For all of the criticism of Royals’ manager Ned Yost, he sure felt good about life when he had closer Greg Holland available to close this game out in the bottom of the 11th. So it was that the Royals put the finishing touches on a gigantic win.

In the big picture, this is the type of game in which the Royals thrive: a game that can be won with run prevention, outstanding bullpen work, speed, athleticism, and a couple clutch hits. If the next games of this series shape up in a similar fashion, it could be a developing problem for the Angels.

These two teams will be back in action Friday for Game 2 of their series. Yordano Ventura will start for the Royals opposite Matt Shoemaker for the Angels.

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