The Kansas City Royals punched their ticket to the American League Division Series with a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles, completing a two-game sweep of the Wild Card series. Bobby Witt Jr., the Royals’ standout shortstop and AL batting champion, once again delivered the decisive hit, beating out an infield single to drive in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning on Wednesday night.
With two outs and runners on the corners, Witt hit a grounder toward the edge of the dirt behind second base. Orioles’ second baseman Jordan Westburg made a diving stop and hurled the ball to first, but Witt’s blazing speed, covering 90 feet in 4.14 seconds, allowed him to reach safely. Kyle Isbel scored from third on the play, giving the Royals the lead they would not relinquish.
Witt’s clutch hit marked his second consecutive game-winning performance. In Game 1 on Tuesday, he delivered an RBI single that accounted for the only run in Kansas City’s 1-0 victory, continuing his trend of coming through in the biggest moments for the Royals.
Kansas City, fresh off a 106-loss season in 2023, returned to October baseball for the first time since winning the World Series in 2015. The Royals endured two seven-game losing streaks in the final month of the regular season but turned things around to secure the Wild Card berth. Their resurgence has been fueled by a 30-win improvement and key additions in the offseason, including veterans with playoff experience like Tommy Pham, Yuli Gurriel, Michael Wacha, and Will Smith.
“We believed in what this team could do,” said Royals second baseman Michael Massey, who set the tone in Game 2 by leading off with a double and later scoring on a Vinnie Pasquantino single. “The front office brought in guys who’ve been here before, and it’s made all the difference.”
Despite leaving 12 runners on base in Game 2, the Royals’ pitching staff and manager Matt Quatraro navigated the pressure with precision. Quatraro, a postseason rookie in his first year at the helm, showcased his strategic mastery, using five relievers to hold the Orioles at bay after starter Seth Lugo found himself in trouble in the fifth inning.
Angel Zerpa entered the game with the bases loaded and nobody out, but he deftly worked out of the jam and earned the win after getting the Royals through the sixth inning. From there, John Schreiber, Sam Long, Kris Bubic, and closer Lucas Erceg combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, with Erceg locking down his second save of the series.
The Orioles managed just one run, a solo home run by Cedric Mullins in the third inning. That marked Baltimore’s only offensive highlight as they were swept out of the playoffs for the second consecutive year, dropping their last 10 postseason games. Despite a promising regular season, the Orioles now face questions after their postseason struggles continued.
As for Kansas City, their unexpected run continues as they advance to face the AL East champion New York Yankees in the ALDS. Game 1 is set for Saturday in the Bronx, where Witt Jr. and the resilient Royals will look to continue their postseason magic.
“Being in this spot is what we’ve worked for all year,” Witt said. “We’re not done yet.”
