The Royals took Game 1 of the World Series last night, 5-4, in a game that lasted over five hours and went 14 innings. There were 115 plate appearances and 417 pitches thrown. We don't usually post recaps of individual games; that's not our niche here. But, when a game like last night's happens, I felt like I had to document it. So in case you missed it, or just want to relive it again, here are things that happened last night.
Edinson Volquez Pitches After His Dad's Death
It's hard to imagine a more emotional day than what Royals Game 1 starter, Edinson Volquez, went through on Tuesday. Volquez's father, Daniel, passed away from a heart condition in the Dominican Republic earlier in the day. As Edinson warmed up for the biggest start of his career, reports of Daniel's death surfaced on social media. There has been mixed reporting on whether Edinson knew of his father's passing before he took the mound. But, according to Royals beat writer Andy McCullough, he only found out when Ned Yost pulled him after the 6th. GM Dayton Moore and Yost decided before the game to honor his family's wishes to not tell him until after he came out. Volquez delivered a gutsy performance, giving up 6 hits and 3 runs over 6 innings. This is the third time in the last three months that a Royals player has lost a parent; Mike Moustakas lost his mother in August and Chris Young lost his father in September.
Fox Broadcast Loses Power
With one out in the bottom of the 4th, the Fox TV broadcast went black due to a power outage in their production truck. This forced a very unique 5-minute delay in the game as MLB officials sorted things out. Joe Torre was back, yet again. Then, both teams agreed to play the game without replay for a brief stretch. TV viewers in the U.S. were given the International feed (Matt Vasgersian and John Smoltz) for a couple innings. Everything was fixed by the bottom of the 6th inning. Despite the power outages, overnight ratings were up 31% from last year (and the highest for a WS Game 1 since 2009). Fox and MLB really lucked out that the game went 14 innings, as this could have easily been the big story line today.
Lorenzo Cain Steals Second, Wins Free Breakfast for Everyone
Taco Bell. November 5th. We all get a free A.M. Curnchwrap. Thanks, Lorenzo.
Eric Hosmer Pulls a Buckner
In the top of the 8th, Eric Hosmer (2-time Gold Glove winner) made a critical error with two outs to allow Juan Lagares to score from second. It was the first go-ahead run scored on an error in the 8th inning or later of a World Series game since the Bill Buckner play in 1986, when the Mets were also on the positive end. With Mets dominant closer Jeurys Familia set to come in, it appeared this would be the big story today...
Alex Gordon Ties It
And then with one out in the 9th, Alex Gordon hit a bomb to tie it. It was the first run given up by Familia in the playoffs (9 2/3 innings). It was also his first blown save since July 30. In 78 regular season innings, Familia only gave up 6 homers. It's worth watching again.
Chris Young vs. Bartolo Colon
From the 12th inning on, this game was a battle of unlikely starting pitchers. Chris Young, the 6' 10" 36-year-old vs. Bartolo Colon, the 285 lb. 42-year-old. In 2010, Young appeared in 4 games and Colon didn't pitch at all. Their careers appeared over. But, here they were five years later, both pitching very well in one of the greatest World Series games ever played. Young, who gave up just one baserunner in three innings, is still slated to start Game 4 in New York on Saturday.
The Royals Win
I could describe to you what happened in the bottom of the 14th, but longtime podcast listener Kate already did that.
Old Hoss Radbourn Says it Best
On Wednesday night, we'll do it all over again for Game 2. But odds are, we won't see anything like Tuesday night for a very long time.