Royals sweep Orioles in AL Wild Card Series, securing their spot in the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees. In a pivotal moment during the sixth inning, with two outs and runners at the corners, Bobby Witt Jr. struck a ground ball to the edge of the dirt behind second base. There, Jordan Westburg made a remarkable diving stop and threw to first, but Witt’s speed was unmatched as he covered 90 feet in just 4.14 seconds, allowing Kyle Isbel to cross home plate from third base.
This marked the second consecutive game where the American League batting champion delivered the game-winning hit in his postseason debut. Witt’s critical RBI single in Game 1 had already secured a narrow 1-0 victory for the Royals.
After facing two seven-game losing streaks in the final month of the regular season, Kansas City is set to challenge the AL East champion New York Yankees, with Game 1 scheduled for Saturday in the Bronx.
Michael Massey, the Royals’ second baseman who opened the game with a double and later scored on a hit from Vinnie Pasquantino, credited the team’s success to the front office’s strategic decision to recruit seasoned veterans with playoff experience, including Tommy Pham, Yuli Gurriel, Michael Wacha, and Will Smith.
Despite leaving 12 runners on base, the Royals managed to navigate another tightly contested game, thanks in part to the skillful managing of Matt Quatraro. He shares the postseason rookie status with Witt, Game 1 winner Cole Ragans, and several others.
On the other hand, the Orioles faced another early playoff exit, being swept for the second consecutive year. They struggled significantly, going just 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position in this series, and 5 for 32 overall. This raises many offseason questions for the franchise, including the future of manager Brandon Hyde and the potential departure of free-agent starter Corbin Burnes.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
