2014 Kansas City Royals season

2014  Kansas City Royals
American League Champions American League Wild Card Winners
Royals home game vs. Giants on August 10, 2014. Two months later the Giants would be their World Series opponent.
League	American League
Division	Central
Ballpark	Kauffman Stadium
City	Kansas City, Missouri
Record	89–73 (.549)
Divisional place	2nd
Owners	David Glass
General managers	Dayton Moore
Managers	Ned Yost
Television	Fox Sports Kansas City (Ryan Lefebvre, Jeff Montgomery, Rex Hudler, Steve Physioc)
Radio	KCSP 610 AM (Denny Matthews, Steve Stewart, Ryan Lefebvre, Steve Physioc)
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The Kansas City Royals' season of 2014 was the 46th for the Royals franchise. On September 26, 2014, the Royals clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 1985. ^[1] They began the post-season by defeating the Oakland Athletics in the ALWC Game and sweeping both the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the ALDS and the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS, becoming the first team in Major League history to win their first 8 postseason games in a row. They lost to the San Francisco Giants in seven games in the 2014 World Series.

To date, the 2014 Royals are the most recent MLB team to hit fewer than 100 home runs in a season.

Regular season

4-run trend

After the first 29 games of the 2014 regular season, the Royals had a record of 14–15. In all of their 14 wins, the Royals had scored at least 4 runs. In all of their 15 losses, the Royals had scored 3 runs or less. In the 30th game of the regular season, the Royals were playing the Tigers at home and the Tigers were winning 9–3 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Mike Moustakas walked to lead off the bottom half of the inning, Alcides Escobar struck out, and Jarrod Dyson grounded out, but advanced Moustakas to second. With two outs and a runner on second in the bottom of the ninth inning, with his team down 6 runs, Nori Aoki hit a single to center field that would score Moustakas, making the score 9–4 Tigers. After Omar Infante singled and advanced Aoki to second, Eric Hosmer recorded the final out of the game with his team at 4 runs by popping out to the catcher, becoming the first Royal in the 2014 regular season to hit into the final out with the Royals at 4 runs or more. The Royals would then become 14–1 when scoring at least 4 runs. After 30 games, however, the trend of always losing when scoring 3 or less was still in place, with the Royals being 0–15 in these games. Finally, on the 32nd game of the regular season, the Royals had a record of 14–17 heading into the game. They beat the Padres in San Diego 3–1 in 11 innings to end the winless streak of games where they scored 3 runs or less.

10-game winning streak

The Royals went on a 10-game winning streak in June, beating the Yankees twice at home, the Indians twice at home, the White Sox three times on the road, and the Tigers three times on the road. At the end of the streak, the Royals were in first place in the AL Central. This was the first time since 2003 that they were leading their division that late in the season.

Midseason slump

From June 1–18, the Royals posted a 13–3 record with one rainout, followed by a 9–17 record from June 19 to July 20. The last three games of this slump, which immediately followed the All-Star break, was a three-game sweep by the Boston Red Sox. After the July 20 game, first base coach Rusty Kuntz entered the team's clubhouse and found many of the players intently playing the computer game Clash of Clans on their smart phones. The team lost a fourth game to the Chicago White Sox on July 21. Before the July 22 game Raúl Ibañez, who joined the team only three weeks earlier after being released by the Los Angeles Angels, called a players-only team meeting to discuss the priorities of the team. ^[2] After that meeting, the team went 25–9 between then and August 27. ^[3]

Postseason clinch

On Friday, September 26, 2014, the Royals won a game in Chicago against the White Sox 3–1, which would clinch a postseason berth for the Royals for the first time since 1985. ^[4]

Season standings

American League Central

v t e AL Central	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Detroit Tigers	90	72	0.556	—	45–36	45–36
Kansas City Royals	89	73	0.549	1	42–39	47–34
Cleveland Indians	85	77	0.525	5	48–33	37–44
Chicago White Sox	73	89	0.451	17	40–41	33–48
Minnesota Twins	70	92	0.432	20	35–46	35–46

American League Wild Card

v t e Division Leaders	W	L	Pct.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim	98	64	0.605
Baltimore Orioles	96	66	0.593
Detroit Tigers	90	72	0.556

v t e Wild Card teams (Top 2 teams qualify for postseason)	W	L	Pct.	GB
Kansas City Royals	89	73	0.549	+1
Oakland Athletics	88	74	0.543	—
Seattle Mariners	87	75	0.537	1
Cleveland Indians	85	77	0.525	3
New York Yankees	84	78	0.519	4
Toronto Blue Jays	83	79	0.512	5
Tampa Bay Rays	77	85	0.475	11
Chicago White Sox	73	89	0.451	15
Boston Red Sox	71	91	0.438	17
Houston Astros	70	92	0.432	18
Minnesota Twins	70	92	0.432	18
Texas Rangers	67	95	0.414	21

Record vs. opponents

2014 American League record v t e Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2014
Team	BAL	BOS	CWS	CLE	DET	HOU	KC	LAA	MIN	NYY	OAK	SEA	TB	TEX	TOR	NL
Baltimore	—	11–8	5–1	3–4	1–5	4–3	3–4	4–2	4–3	13–6	2–4	5–2	12–7	6–1	11–8	12–8
Boston	8–11	—	4–3	2–5	1–5	4–3	6–1	2–5	4–2	7–12	3–4	1–5	9–10	4–2	7–12	9–11
Chicago	1–5	3–4	—	9–10	9–10	3–3	6–13	1–5	9–10	2–5	4–3	3–4	5–2	2–4	5–2	11–9
Cleveland	4–3	5–2	10–9	—	8–11	5–2	10–9	2–5	11–8	4–3	2–4	2–4	4–2	6–1	2–4	10–10
Detroit	5–1	5–1	10–9	11–8	—	4–3	13–6	3–4	9–10	3–4	5–2	2–4	3–4	4–3	1–5	12–8
Houston	3–4	3–4	3–3	2–5	3–4	—	3–3	7–12	3–3	4–2	8–11	9–10	2–5	11–8	4–3	5–15
Kansas City	4–3	1–6	13–6	9–10	6–13	3–3	—	3–3	11–8	4–3	5–2	2–5	4–2	5–1	4–3	15–5
Los Angeles	2–4	5–2	5–1	5–2	4–3	12–7	3–3	—	7–0	2–4	10–9	7–12	5–2	14–5	5–2	12–8
Minnesota	3–4	2–4	10–9	8–11	10–9	3–3	8–11	0–7	—	3–4	1–6	5–2	2–4	2–5	4–2	9–11
New York	6–13	12–7	5–2	3–4	4–3	2–4	3–4	4–2	4–3	—	2–4	3–3	8–11	4–3	11–8	13–7
Oakland	4–2	4–3	3–4	4–2	2–5	11–8	2–5	9–10	6–1	4–2	—	9–10	4–2	9–10	4–3	13–7
Seattle	2–5	5–1	4–3	4–2	4–2	10–9	5–2	12–7	2–5	3–3	10–9	—	4–3	9–10	4–3	9–11
Tampa Bay	7–12	10–9	2–5	2–4	4–3	5–2	2–4	2–5	4–2	11–8	2–4	3–4	—	5–2	8–11	10–10
Texas	1–6	2–4	4–2	1–6	3–4	8–11	1–5	5–14	5–2	3–4	10–9	10–9	2–5	—	2–4	10–10
Toronto	8–11	12–7	2–5	4–2	5–1	3–4	3–4	2–5	2–4	8–11	3–4	3–4	11–8	4–2	—	13–7

Detailed Records

(updated through September 28)

American League Opponent Home Away Total Pct. Runs scored Runs allowed AL East Toronto Blue Jays 2–1 2–2 4–3 .571 33 39 New York Yankees 2–2 2–1 4–3 .571 18 23 Baltimore Orioles 2–2 2–1 4–3 .571 26 18 Boston Red Sox 1–3 0–3 1–6 .143 17 32 Tampa Bay Rays 2–1 2–1 4–2 .667 25 14 8–6 8–8 16–14 .519 119 126 AL Central Kansas City Royals - - - - - - Detroit Tigers 2–8 4–5 6–13 .316 66 100 Chicago White Sox 5–4 8–2 13–6 .684 93 64 Minnesota Twins 6–3 5–5 11–8 .579 78 83 Cleveland Indians 5–4 4–6 9–10 .474 76 74 18–19 21–18 39–37 .513 313 321 AL West Oakland Athletics 3–1 2–1 5–2 .714 24 26 Los Angeles Angels 2–1 1–2 3–3 .500 26 30 Texas Rangers 3–0 2–1 5–1 .833 23 14 Seattle Mariners 0–3 2–2 2–5 .286 23 23 Houston Astros 0–3 3–0 3–3 .500 20 28 8–8 10–6 18–14 .563 116 121

National League Opponent Home Away Total Pct. Runs scored Runs allowed San Diego Padres 0–0 2–1 2–1 .667 16 7 Colorado Rockies 2–0 1–1 3–1 .750 17 12 St. Louis Cardinals 1–1 2–0 3–1 .750 19 14 Los Angeles Dodgers 1–2 0–0 1–2 .333 9 10 Arizona Diamondbacks 0–0 3–0 3–0 1.000 22 7 San Francisco Giants 3–0 0–0 3–0 1.000 16 6 7–3 8–2 15–5 .750 99 56

Game log

Legend
Royals Win	Royals Loss	Game Postponed

2014 Kansas City Royals Game Log
March/April (14–12) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 March 31 @ Tigers 3–4 Nathan (1–0) Davis (0–1) — 45,068 0–1 2 April 2 @ Tigers 1–2 (10) Alburquerque (1–0) Collins (0–1) — 26,906 0–2 -- April 3 @ Tigers Postponed (rain). Rescheduled to June 19. 3 April 4 White Sox 7–5 Guthrie (1–0) Johnson (0–1) Holland (1) 40,103 1–2 4 April 5 White Sox 4–3 Davis (1–1) Downs (0–1) Holland (2) 21,463 2–2 5 April 6 White Sox 1–5 Sale (2–0) Shields (0–1) 29,760 2–3 6 April 7 Rays 4–2 Vargas (1–0) Moore (0–2) Holland (3) 12,087 3–3 7 April 8 Rays 0–1 Peralta (1–1) Holland (0–1) Balfour (2) 13,905 3–4 8 April 9 Rays 7–3 Guthrie (2–0) Odorizzi (1–1) 13,612 4–4 9 April 11 @ Twins 1–10 Gibson (2–0) Chen (0–1) 24,338 4–5 10 April 12 @ Twins 1–7 Nolasco (1–1) Shields (0–2) 23,963 4–6 11 April 13 @ Twins 3–4 Fien (1–0) Crow (0–1) Perkins (3) 20,878 4–7 12 April 15 @ Astros 4–2 Ventura (1–0) Harrell (0–3) Holland (4) 29,778 5–7 13 April 16 @ Astros 6–4 (11) Duffy (1–0) Williams (0–1) Holland (5) 23,043 6–7 14 April 17 @ Astros 5–1 Shields (1–2) Feldman (2–1) 26,333 7–7 15 April 18 Twins 5–0 Vargas (2–0) Nolasco (1–2) 21,192 8–7 16 April 19 Twins 5–4 Chen (1–1) Correia (0–2) Holland (6) 24,291 9–7 17 April 20 Twins 3–8 Hughes (1–1) Ventura (1–1) 17,710 9–8 18 April 21 @ Indians 3–4 McAllister (3–0) Guthrie (2–1) Axford (7) 10,789 9–9 19 April 22 @ Indians 8–2 Shields (2–2) Salazar (0–3) 8,848 10–9 20 April 23 @ Indians 3–5 Shaw (1–0) Herrera (0–1) Axford (8) 9,311 10–10 21 April 24 @ Indians 1–5 Kluber (2–2) Chen (1–2) 10,440 10–11 22 April 25 @ Orioles 5–0 Ventura (2–1) Jiménez (0–4) 22,478 11–11 23 April 26 @ Orioles 2–3 (10) Britton (3–0) Duffy (1–1) 34,941 11–12 24 April 27 @ Orioles 9–3 Shields (3–2) González (1–2) 38,368 12–12 25 April 29 Blue Jays 10–7 Crow (1–1) Cecil (0–2) 10,705 13–12 26 April 30 Blue Jays 4–2 Herrera (1–1) Hutchison (1–2) Holland (7) 11,715 14–12
May (12–17) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 27 May 1 Blue Jays 3–7 Buehrle (5–1) Guthrie (2–2) Loup (1) 11,207 14–13 28 May 2 Tigers 2–8 Porcello (4–1) Shields (3–3) 28,021 14–14 29 May 3 Tigers 2–9 Smyly (2–1) Duffy (1–2) 29,200 14–15 30 May 4 Tigers 4–9 Verlander (4–1) Vargas (2–1) 22,504 14–16 31 May 5 @ Padres 5–6 (12) Stauffer (1–0) Collins (0–2) 14,089 14–17 32 May 6 @ Padres 3–1 (11) Davis (2–1) Vincent (0–1) Holland (8) 16,542 15–17 33 May 7 @ Padres 8–0 Shields (4–3) Cashner (2–5) 18,228 16–17 34 May 8 @ Mariners 0–1 Iwakuma (2–0) Duffy (1–3) Rodney (10) 12,577 16–18 35 May 9 @ Mariners 6–1 Vargas (3–1) Maurer (1–1) 20,858 17–18 36 May 10 @ Mariners 1–3 Young (3–0) Ventura (2–2) Rodney (11) 29,359 17–19 37 May 11 @ Mariners 9–7 Coleman (1–0) Farquhar (1–1) Holland (9) 30,447 18–19 38 May 13 Rockies 5–1 Shields (5–3) Morales (3–3) 15,914 19–19 39 May 14 Rockies 3–2 Vargas (4–1) Chacín (0–2) Holland (10) 27,323 20–19 40 May 15 Orioles 1–2 Chen (5–2) Ventura (2–3) Britton (1) 12,455 20–20 41 May 16 Orioles 0–4 Tillman (4–2) Guthrie (2–3) 25,985 20–21 42 May 17 Orioles 1–0 Duffy (2–3) Norris (2–4) Holland (11) 24,064 21–21 43 May 18 Orioles 8–6 Shields (6–3) Jiménez (2–5) Holland (12) 22,692 22–21 44 May 19 White Sox 6–7 Putnam (2–0) Vargas (4–2) Petricka (1) 16,462 22–22 45 May 20 White Sox 6–7 Rienzo (4–0) Ventura (2–4) Belisario (1) 14,900 22–23 46 May 21 White Sox 3–1 Davis (3–1) Quintana (2–4) Holland (13) 17,576 23–23 47 May 23 @ Angels 1–6 Wilson (6–3) Duffy (2–4) 35,082 23–24 48 May 24 @ Angels 7–4 (13) Crow (2–1) Morin (0–1) Holland (14) 42,140 24–24 49 May 25 @ Angels 3–4 Kohn (2–1) Collins (0–3) Frieri (6) 36,114 24–25 50 May 26 Astros 2–9 Feldman (3–2) Ventura (2–5) 32,070 24–26 51 May 27 Astros 0–3 McHugh (3–3) Guthrie (2–4) 17,826 24–27 52 May 28 Astros 3–9 Cosart (4–4) Duffy (2–5) 16,220 24–28 53 May 29 @ Blue Jays 8–6 (10) Davis (4–1) Redmond (0–4) 17,978 25–28 54 May 30 @ Blue Jays 6–1 Vargas (5–2) Happ (4–2) 21,543 26–28 55 May 31 @ Blue Jays 2–12 Stroman (2–0) Brooks (0–1) Redmond (1) 31,652 26–29
June (17–10) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 56 June 1 @ Blue Jays 0–4 Buehrle (10–1) Guthrie (2–5) 38,008 26–30 57 June 2 @ Cardinals 6–0 Duffy (3–5) Miller (6–5) 41,239 27–30 58 June 3 @ Cardinals 8–7 Davis (5–1) Rosenthal (0–3) Holland (16) 41,192 28–30 59 June 4 Cardinals 2–5 (11) Freeman (1–0) Herrera (1–2) Neshek (1) 22,126 28–31 60 June 5 Cardinals 3–2 Ventura (3–5) Wacha (4–4) Holland (17) 24,438 29–31 61 June 6 Yankees 2–4 Whitley (1–0) Guthrie (2–6) Robertson (14) 23,418 29–32 62 June 7 Yankees 8–6 Crow (3–1) Phelps (1–4) 26,991 30–32 63 June 8 Yankees 2–1 Shields (7–3) Kuroda (4–4) Holland (18) 24,614 31–32 – June 9 Yankees Postponed (rain). Rescheduled to August 25. 64 June 10 Indians 9–5 Vargas (6–2) Kluber (6–2) Crow (1) 25,540 32–32 65 June 11 Indians 4–1 Ventura (4–5) Bauer (1–3) Holland (19) 19,938 33–32 66 June 13 @ White Sox 7–2 Guthrie (3–6) Quintana (3–7) 22,773 34–32 67 June 14 @ White Sox 9–1 Duffy (4–5) Noesí (2–5) 24,527 35–32 68 June 15 @ White Sox 6–3 Shields (8–3) Rienzo (4–4) Holland (20) 29,152 36–32 69 June 16 @ Tigers 11–8 Vargas (7–2) Verlander (6–7) 31,774 37–32 70 June 17 @ Tigers 11–4 Ventura (5–5) Scherzer (8–3) 34,328 38–32 71 June 18 @ Tigers 2–1 Guthrie (4–6) Smyly (3–6) Holland (21) 37,209 39–32 72 June 19 @ Tigers 1–2 Sánchez (4–2) Duffy (4–6) Nathan (14) 35,715 39–33 73 June 20 Mariners 5–7 Furbush (1–4) Holland (0–2) Rodney (19) 38,475 39–34 74 June 21 Mariners 1–2 Medina (4–1) Vargas (7–3) Rodney (20) 21,640 39–35 75 June 22 Mariners 1–2 Elías (7–5) Ventura (5–6) Rodney (21) 23,278 39–36 76 June 23 Dodgers 5–3 Guthrie (5–6) Greinke (9–4) Holland (22) 21,615 40–36 77 June 24 Dodgers 0–2 Kershaw (8–2) Duffy (4–7) Jansen (23) 28,302 40–37 78 June 25 Dodgers 4–5 Wright (3–2) Davis (5–2) Wilson (1) 19,776 40–38 79 June 27 Angels 8–6 Mariot (1–0) Shoemaker (5–2) Holland (23) 35,461 41–38 80 June 28 Angels 2–6 Morin (2–1) Ventura (5–7) 21,093 41–39 81 June 29 Angels 5–4 Holland (1–2) Grilli (0–3) 27,803 42–39 82 June 30 @ Twins 6–1 Duffy (5–7) Pino (0–2) 28,533 43–39
July (12–13) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 83 July 1 @ Twins 2–10 Nolasco (5–6) Shields (8–4) 23,383 43–40 84 July 2 @ Twins 4–0 Vargas (8–3) Correia (4–10) 28,860 44–40 85 July 4 @ Indians 7–1 Ventura (6–7) Tomlin (5–6) 39,020 45–40 86 July 5 @ Indians 3–7 House (1–2) Guthrie (5–7) 24,481 45–41 87 July 6 @ Indians 1–4 Kluber (8–6) Duffy (5–8) Allen (9) 16,991 45–42 88 July 7 @ Rays 6–0 Shields (9–4) Odorizzi (4–8) 13,406 46–42 89 July 8 @ Rays 3–4 Boxberger (2–1) Vargas (8–4) McGee (6) 12,818 46–43 90 July 9 @ Rays 5–4 Crow (4–1) Yates (0–1) 12,150 47–43 91 July 10 Tigers 4–16 Smyly (5–8) Guthrie (5–8) 21,775 47–44 92 July 11 Tigers 1–2 Sánchez (6–3) Duffy (5–9) Nathan (19) 31,581 47–45 93 July 12 Tigers 1–5 Porcello (12–5) Shields (9–5) 33,849 47–46 94 July 13 Tigers 5–2 Ventura (7–7) Verlander (8–8) Holland (25) 23,424 48–46 95 July 18 @ Red Sox 4–5 Buchholz (5–5) Downs (0–3) Uehara (19) 37,743 48–47 96 July 19 @ Red Sox 1–2 De La Rosa (3–2) Duffy (5–10) Uehara (20) 37,878 48–48 97 July 20 @ Red Sox 0–6 Lester (10–7) Ventura (6–7) 37,439 48–49 98 July 21 @ White Sox 1–3 Sale (9–1) Guthrie (5–9) Petricka (4) 18,888 48–50 99 July 22 @ White Sox 7–1 Chen (2–2) Carroll (4–6) 20,428 49–50 100 July 23 @ White Sox 2–1 Wade (6–2) Putnam (3–2) Holland (26) 23,811 50–50 101 July 24 Indians 2–1 (14) Crow (5–1) Rzepczynski (0–3) 22,120 51–50 102 July 25 Indians 6–4 Herrera (2–2) Carrasco (3–4) Crow (2) 33,460 52–50 103 July 26 Indians 7–5 Guthrie (6–9) McAllister (3–6) Holland (27) 29,567 53–50 104 July 27 Indians 3–10 Salazar (3–4) Chen (2–3) 23,409 53–51 105 July 29 Twins 1–2 Gibson (9–8) Shields (9–6) Perkins (26) 30,686 53–52 106 July 30 Twins 3–2 Frasor (2–1) Hughes (10–8) Holland (28) 20,747 54–52 107 July 31 Twins 6–3 Ventura (8–8) Thielbar (2–1) Holland (29) 24,127 55–52
August (19–10) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 108 August 1 @ Athletics 1–0 Guthrie (7–9) Gray (12–4) Holland (30) 35,067 56–52 109 August 2 @ Athletics 3–8 Lester (11–7) Vargas (8–5) 30,097 56–53 110 August 3 @ Athletics 4–2 Shields (10–6) Kazmir (12–4) Holland (31) 22,612 57–53 111 August 5 @ Diamondbacks 12–2 Duffy (6–10) Miley (7–8) 16,677 58–53 112 August 6 @ Diamondbacks 4–3 Ventura (9–8) Collmenter (8–6) Holland (32) 16,157 59–53 113 August 7 @ Diamondbacks 6–2 Guthrie (8–9) Nuño (2–8) 17,809 60–53 114 August 8 Giants 4–2 Frasor (3–1) Bumgarner (13–9) Holland (33) 28,307 61–53 115 August 9 Giants 5–0 Shields (11–6) Hudson (8–9) 35,114 62–53 116 August 10 Giants 7–4 Duffy (7–10) Lincecum (9–8) Holland (34) 27,359 63–53 117 August 11 Athletics 3–2 Herrera (3–2) Gray (12–6) Holland (35) 21,479 64–53 118 August 12 Athletics 3–11 Lester (3–0) Guthrie (8–10) 27,161 64–54 119 August 13 Athletics 3–0 Vargas (9–5) Kazmir (13–5) 21,099 65–54 120 August 14 Athletics 7–3 Crow (6–1) Samardzija (3–2) Holland (36) 20,569 66–54 121 August 15 @ Twins 6–5 Duffy (8–10) Nolasco (5–8) Holland (37) 32,013 67–54 122 August 16 @ Twins 1–4 Hughes (13–8) Ventura (9–9) Perkins (31) 35,575 67–55 123 August 17 @ Twins 12–6 Guthrie (9–10) Milone (6–4) 31,455 68–55 124 August 18 @ Twins 6–4 Vargas (10–5) May (0–2) Holland (38) 25,559 69–55 125 August 19 @ Rockies 7–4 Shields (12–6) Matzek (2–9) Holland (39) 30,394 70–55 126 August 20 @ Rockies 2–5 De la Rosa (13–8) Duffy (8–11) Hawkins (19) 28,834 70–56 127 August 22 @ Rangers 6–3 Ventura (10–9) Lewis (8–11) Holland (40) 26,991 71–56 128 August 23 @ Rangers 6–3 Guthrie (10–10) Tepesch (4–8) 27,400 72–56 129 August 24 @ Rangers 1–3 Baker (2–3) Vargas (10–6) Feliz (6) 30,049 72–57 130 August 25 Yankees 1–8 Pineda (3–2) Shields (12–7) 31,758 72–58 131 August 26 Twins 2–1 Davis (7–2) Perkins (3–1) 13,847 73–58 132 August 27 Twins 6–1 Davis (8–2) Hughes (14–9) 17,668 74–58 133 August 28 Twins 5–11 (10) Swarzak (3–1) Chen (2–4) 17,219 74–59 134 August 29 Indians 1–6 Salazar (5–6) Vargas (10–7) 31,341 74–60 135 August 30 Indians 2–3 (11) Tomlin (6–8) Downs (0–4) 35,089 74–61 136 August 31* Indians 3–4 (10) Allen (6–4) Holland (1–3) 39,009 74–62 — *Game suspended by rain at 2–4 in the bottom of the 10th inning, completed on September 22 at Progressive Field.
September (15–11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 137 September 1 Rangers 4–3 Ventura (11–9) Lewis (9–12) Holland (41) 21,536 75–62 138 September 2 Rangers 2–1 Frasor (4–1) Kirkman (4–1) Crow (3) 19,435 76–62 139 September 3 Rangers 4–1 Vargas (11–7) Tepesch (4–9) Holland (42) 15,771 77–62 140 September 5 @ Yankees 1–0 Shields (13–7) Pineda (3–4) Davis (1) 36,284 78–62 141 September 6 @ Yankees 2–6 McCarthy (9–14) Hendriks (1–1) 45,262 78–63 142 September 7 @ Yankees 2–0 Ventura (12–9) Greene (4–3) Davis (2) 48,110 79–63 143 September 8 @ Tigers 5–9 Verlander (13–12) Guthrie (10–11) 30,758 79–64 144 September 9 @ Tigers 2–4 Scherzer (16–5) Vargas (11–8) Nathan (30) 32,603 79–65 145 September 10 @ Tigers 3–0 Shields (14–7) Porcello (15–11) Davis (3) 29,751 80–65 146 September 11 Red Sox 3–6 Buchholz (8–8) Hendriks (1–2) Mujica (5) 28,673 80–66 147 September 12 Red Sox 2–4 Webster (4–3) Ventura (12–10) Mujica (6) 19,191 80–67 148 September 13 Red Sox 7–1 Guthrie (11–11) De La Rosa (4–7) 26,627 81–67 149 September 14 Red Sox 4–8 Kelly (4–4) Vargas (11–9) 19,065 81–68 150 September 15 White Sox 4–3 Davis (9–2) Petricka (1–5) 21,390 82–68 151 September 16 White Sox 5–7 Herrera (3–3) Surkamp (2–0) 28,904 82–69 152 September 17 White Sox 6–2 Ventura (13–10) Sale (12–4) 26,425 83–69 153 September 19 Tigers 1–10 Verlander (14–12) Vargas (11–10) 37,945 83–70 154 September 20 Tigers 2–3 Scherzer (17–5) Shields (14–8) Nathan (33) 37,074 83–71 155 September 21 Tigers 5–2 Guthrie (12–11) Porcello (15–12) Holland (43) 37,212 84–71 156 September 22 @ Indians 2–0 Duffy (9–11) Carrasco (8–6) Holland (44) 10,458 85–71 157 September 23 @ Indians 7–1 Ventura (14–10) Salazar (6–8) 11,735 86–71 158 September 24 @ Indians 4–6 McAllister (4–7) Finnegan (0–1) Allen (23) 13,796 86–72 159 September 25 @ White Sox 6–3 Herrera (4–3) Quintana (9–11) Holland (45) 19,587 87–72 160 September 26 @ White Sox 3–1 Guthrie (13–11) Noesí (8–12) Holland (46) 27,416 88–72 161 September 27 @ White Sox 4–5 Danks (11–11) Duffy (9–12) Guerra (1) 38,160 88–73 162 September 28 @ White Sox 6–4 Coleman (1–0) Webb (6–5) Coleman (1) 32,266 89–73

Roster

2014 Kansas City Royals
Roster
Pitchers 62 Aaron Brooks 67 Francisley Bueno 52 Bruce Chen 25 Casey Coleman 31 Louis Coleman 55 Tim Collins 43 Aaron Crow 17 Wade Davis 37 Scott Downs 41 Danny Duffy 27 Brandon Finnegan 54 Jason Frasor 11 Jeremy Guthrie 39 Liam Hendriks 40 Kelvin Herrera 56 Greg Holland 49 Donnie Joseph 48 Michael Mariot 46 Justin Marks 68 Wilking Rodríguez 33 James Shields 51 Jason Vargas 30 Yordano Ventura		Catchers 12 Brett Hayes 19 Erik Kratz 26 Francisco Peña 13 Salvador Pérez Infielders 16 Billy Butler 37 Pedro Ciriaco 24 Christian Colón  2 Alcides Escobar  9 Johnny Giavotella 35 Eric Hosmer 14 Omar Infante  8 Mike Moustakas 12 Jayson Nix 32 Jimmy Paredes 19 Danny Valencia		Outfielders 45 Lane Adams 23 Nori Aoki  6 Lorenzo Cain  1 Jarrod Dyson  4 Alex Gordon  0 Terrance Gore 18 Raúl Ibañez 27 Justin Maxwell 34 Carlos Peguero  7 Josh Willingham		Manager  3 Ned Yost Coaches 58 Dave Eiland (pitching) 28 Pedro Grifol (catching instructor) 57 Doug Henry (bullpen) 59 Mike Jirschele (third base) 15 Rusty Kuntz (first base) 21 Dale Sveum (hitting) 22 Don Wakamatsu (bench)

Player stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; BB = Walks; AVG = Batting average; SLG = Slugging average

Player	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	AVG	SLG
Alcides Escobar	162	579	74	165	34	5	3	50	31	23	.285	.377
Salvador Pérez	150	578	57	150	28	2	17	70	1	22	.260	.403
Alex Gordon	156	563	87	150	34	1	19	74	12	65	.266	.432
Billy Butler	151	549	57	149	32	0	9	66	0	41	.271	.379
Omar Infante	135	528	50	133	21	3	6	66	9	33	.252	.337
Eric Hosmer	131	503	54	136	35	1	9	58	4	35	.270	.398
Nori Aoki	132	491	63	140	22	6	1	43	17	43	.285	.360
Lorenzo Cain	133	471	55	142	29	4	5	53	28	24	.301	.412
Mike Moustakas	140	457	45	97	21	1	15	54	1	35	.212	.361
Jarrod Dyson	120	260	33	70	4	4	1	24	36	22	.269	.327
Danny Valencia	36	110	8	31	5	0	2	11	0	7	.282	.382
Raúl Ibañez	33	80	7	15	3	1	2	5	0	10	.188	.325
Josh Willingham	24	73	14	17	5	0	2	6	1	11	.233	.384
Brett Hayes	27	52	3	7	1	0	1	2	0	1	.135	.212
Pedro Ciriaco	25	47	7	10	2	0	0	2	4	0	.213	.255
Christian Colón	21	45	8	15	5	1	0	6	2	3	.333	.489
Justin Maxwell	20	40	4	6	1	0	0	3	0	2	.150	.175
Johnny Giavotella	12	37	8	8	1	0	1	5	0	1	.216	.324
Eric Kratz	13	29	4	8	1	0	2	3	0	1	.276	.517
Jimmy Paredes	9	10	3	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	.200	.200
Carlos Peguero	4	9	1	2	1	0	0	1	0	1	.222	.333
Jayson Nix	7	8	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.000	.000
Lane Adams	6	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000
Terrance Gore	11	1	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	.000	.000
Francisco Peña	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.---	.---
Pitcher Totals	162	22	3	3	1	0	0	1	0	0	.136	.182
Team Totals	162	5545	651	1456	286	29	95	604	153	380	.263	.376

Source:

Pitching

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

Player	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
James Shields	14	8	3.21	34	34	0	227.0	224	95	81	44	80
Jeremy Guthrie	13	11	4.13	32	32	0	202.2	215	100	93	49	124
Jason Vargas	11	10	3.71	30	30	0	187.0	197	82	77	41	128
Yordano Ventura	14	10	3.20	31	30	0	183.0	168	70	65	69	159
Danny Duffy	9	12	2.53	31	25	0	149.1	113	52	42	53	113
Wade Davis	9	2	1.00	71	0	3	72.0	38	8	8	23	109
Kelvin Herrera	4	3	1.41	70	0	0	70.0	54	12	11	26	59
Greg Holland	1	3	1.44	65	0	46	62.1	37	13	10	20	90
Aaron Crow	6	1	4.12	67	0	3	59.0	52	32	27	24	34
Bruce Chen	2	4	7.45	13	7	0	48.1	69	40	40	16	36
Louis Coleman	1	0	5.56	31	0	1	34.0	39	21	21	18	24
Francisley Bueno	0	0	4.18	30	0	0	32.1	36	16	15	7	20
Michael Mariot	1	0	6.48	17	0	0	25.0	31	21	18	12	21
Tim Collins	0	3	3.86	22	0	0	21.0	18	9	9	11	15
Liam Hendriks	0	2	4.66	6	3	0	19.1	26	12	10	3	15
Jason Frasor	3	0	1.53	23	0	0	17.2	13	3	3	4	16
Scott Downs	0	2	3.14	17	0	0	14.1	12	7	5	5	3
Casey Coleman	1	0	5.25	10	0	0	12.0	16	8	7	6	5
Brandon Finnegan	0	1	1.29	7	0	0	7.0	6	1	1	1	10
Aaron Brooks	0	1	43.88	2	1	0	2.2	12	13	13	3	2
Justin Marks	0	0	13.50	1	0	0	2.0	4	3	3	3	2
Wilking Rodríguez	0	0	0.00	2	0	0	2.0	1	0	0	1	1
Donnie Joseph	0	0	81.00	1	0	0	0.2	5	6	6	1	2
Team Totals	89	73	3.51	162	162	53	1450.2	1386	624	565	440	1168

Source:

Post-season

Wild Card Game, September 30

Main article: 2014 American League Wild Card Game

7:07 p.m. CDT at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	R	H	E
Oakland	2	0	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	1	8	13	0
Kansas City	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	2	9	15	0
WP: Jason Frasor (1–0)   LP: Dan Otero (0–1) Home runs: OAK: Brandon Moss 2 (2) KC: None

The one-game playoff was touted as a duel between the Royals' James Shields and the Athletics' Jon Lester, but neither starting pitcher would earn a decision in the game. Oakland's Brandon Moss homered early off of Shields with Coco Crisp on base, giving the Athletics a 2–0 advantage; Kansas City halved the lead in the bottom of the first when Billy Butler singled to score Nori Aoki. Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer had RBI hits for the Royals in the third inning, vaulting Kansas City to a 3–2 lead. The fourth and fifth innings were scoreless, and Oakland proceeded to stitch together five runs in the top of the sixth as Moss homered a second time, scoring himself, Sam Fuld, and Josh Donaldson. Derek Norris and Crisp singled in two additional runs.

Both Oakland and Kansas City batted fruitlessly in the seventh inning, and Royals relief pitcher Kelvin Herrera recorded three straight outs in the top of the eighth. In the bottom of the eighth, with Kansas City six outs away from having their season ended, the Royals manufactured a productive inning of their own. Alcides Escobar singled, and then stole second base with Nori Aoki at the plate. Lorenzo Cain singled, scoring Escobar. Cain stole second base himself with Eric Hosmer batting; Hosmer was then walked, at which point starting pitcher Jon Lester was relieved by Luke Gregerson. Nerves seemed to get the better of Gregerson, who allowed Billy Butler to single and score Cain, and then allowed Hosmer to score from third base on a wild pitch. Gregerson struck out the next two batters to preserve the Athletics' lead, but the Royals had crept to within one run.

Closer Greg Holland took the mound for Kansas City and was somewhat shaky, walking three batters, but mustered the three required outs without major damage, and Kansas City took their one-run deficit to the bottom of the ninth.

Oakland's closer, Sean Doolittle, pitched in relief of Gregerson. Pinch-hitter Josh Willingham singled and was replaced by pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson. Dyson moved to second base on a successful bunt from Alcides Escobar, and then stole third with Aoki at bat. Aoki hit a deep sacrifice fly to right field for the second out of the inning, but Dyson was able to jog home, tying the game at 7–7 and completing the Royals' four-run comeback. Cain lined out to end the inning for Kansas City.

Brandon Finnegan began a strong inning of work in the tenth, replacing Greg Holland and recording three outs in quick succession. The Royals advanced Eric Hosmer to third base with two outs in the bottom of the tenth, but Salvador Pérez grounded out, putting a Royals victory on hold.

Finnegan again pitched well in the top of the eleventh, allowing only one hit and striking out Brandon Moss, who had already hit two home runs. Kansas City's offense produced in the bottom of the eleventh a situation identical to that of the tenth; the winning run stood 90 feet away with two outs, but Jayson Nix struck out to end the inning. Finnegan began the twelfth inning by walking Josh Reddick, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jed Lowrie. Finnegan was then relieved by Jason Frasor. Pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo of Oakland took a wild pitch from Frasor, allowing Reddick to go to third base. Callaspo then hit a line drive to left field, scoring Reddick. The new pitcher Frasor quickly stopped the bleeding by retiring Derek Norris and Nick Punto, but the Athletics had retaken the lead, 8–7.

Lorenzo Cain failed to start the bottom of the twelfth in a promising fashion, grounding out. The Oakland Athletics were two outs away from advancing to the ALDS. However, Hosmer nursed a lengthy at-bat into a deep left field hit that was poorly fielded, allowing him to reach third base. Christian Colon then singled to tie the game again, scoring Hosmer. Oakland pitcher Dan Otero was replaced by Fernando Abad, who threw to only one batter, Alex Gordon, who popped out. Abad was then relieved by Jason Hammel. Christian Colon, still on first base, stole second with Pérez at the plate. Pérez then singled to left field, scoring Colon and ending the marathon game with a Royals victory and a ticket to the ALDS against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Division series

Main article: 2014 American League Division Series

Game 1, October 2

6:07 p.m. PDT at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Kansas City	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	4	0
Los Angeles	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	0
WP: Danny Duffy (1–0)   LP: Fernando Salas (0–1)   Sv: Holland (1) Home runs: KC: Mike Moustakas (1) LAA: Chris Iannetta (1), David Freese (1)

Mike Moustakas' solo home run in the top of the eleventh inning off of Angels pitcher Fernando Salas proved to be the difference for Kansas City, as the Royals surprised the favored Angels by winning a low-scoring Game 1. Moustakas also scored one of the Royals' other two runs, running home from first base on a double by Alcides Escobar in the third inning, giving Kansas City a 1–0. The Angels battled back quickly, though, as catcher Chris Iannetta homered with the bases empty off Jason Vargas for a 1–1 tie. The two teams traded runs again in the fifth—Alex Gordon scoring from second on an Omar Infante sac fly for the Royals, David Freese hitting a solo line drive home run for the Angels—before engaging in a scoreless battle for five innings until Moustakas' game-winner. Royals starter Vargas was replaced after six innings by a battery of relievers that included Kelvin Herrera, Brandon Finnegan, Wade Davis, Tim Collins, Jason Frasor, Danny Duffy, and Greg Holland. Herrera, however, left Game 1 with tightness in his right forearm, and the exit of the effective relief pitcher put a slight damper on the Royals' opening victory.

Game 2, October 3

6:37 p.m. PDT at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Kansas City	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	4	8	0
Los Angeles	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	2
WP: Brandon Finnegan (1–0)   LP: Kevin Jepsen (0–1)   Sv: Greg Holland (2) Home runs: KC: Eric Hosmer (1) LAA: None

The eleventh inning was again a magical time for the Royals, as Eric Hosmer's two-run home run to right field broke a 1–1 tie and vaulted Kansas City over the Angels. Lorenzo Cain scored from first base on Hosmer's blast. The Royals added a third run when Alex Gordon walked, stole second and advanced to third on an Angels fielding error with Salvador Pérez at the plate, and then scored on a single by Perez. The Royals led 4–1 heading into the bottom of the eleventh inning, and closer Greg Holland retired three out of four batters faced to rack up his second postseason save and to send the Royals home to Kansas City with an opportunity to sweep the Angels in Game 3.

The Royals' one run prior to the eleventh came in the second inning, as Hosmer scored from second base on a Gordon single.

The Angels' lone run of the game came during the sixth inning. Kole Calhoun singled, Mike Trout walked, advancing Calhoun to second, and Calhoun scored from second courtesy of an Albert Pujols single.

The Angels very nearly broke the 1–1 tie and took the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, but astute defensive play by the Royals kept the stalemate intact. Jarrod Dyson came into center field as the result of a defensive substitution. With Wade Davis on the mound, C. J. Cron doubled and was replaced by pinch-runner Collin Cowgill. Angels catcher Chris Iannetta hit the ball deep to center field, but Dyson made a difficult catch and then launched a laserlike throw to the third baseman Moustakas, who tagged out Cowgill, attempting to tag up from second, to complete a double play.

The Royals received a scare in the fifth inning when Los Angeles' Josh Hamilton hit catcher Salvador Pérez on the head with his bat on the follow-through of a swing. Perez underwent a brief concussion test while still on the field and remained in the game. ^[5]

The Royals' victory also made them the first team in the history of Major League Baseball to win three straight extra inning games in the postseason.

Game 3, October 5

6:37 p.m. CDT at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Los Angeles	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	3	8	0
Kansas City	3	0	2	2	0	1	0	0	X	8	9	0
WP: James Shields (1–0)   LP: C. J. Wilson (0–1) Home runs: LAA: Mike Trout (1), Albert Pujols (1) KC: Eric Hosmer (2), Mike Moustakas (2)

Royals starter James Shields gave up a home run to slugger Mike Trout to give the Angels an early 1–0 lead. However, back to back singles by Aoki and Cain and a walk to Billy Butler loaded the bases with one out. Alex Gordon came up and smacked the ball for a bases clearing double to put the Royals up 3–1. Angels starter C. J. Wilson didn't last more than two-thirds of one inning and was replaced by Vinnie Pestano after Gordon's hit.

Kansas City's offense struck again in the third inning as Eric Hosmer homered to center field with Nori Aoki on base, giving the Royals a capacious 5–1 lead. The Angels inched closer in the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run by Albert Pujols, but still trailed 5–2. In the bottom half of the inning, Mike Moustakas crushed a long ball of his own, such that Moustakas and Hosmer, who hit game-winning home runs in the top of the eleventh inning in Games 1 and 2, respectively, both homered again in Game 3. Alcides Escobar singled, found second base on a wild pitch from the Angels' Morin, took third on a single by Aoki, and scored on a Lorenzo Cain sacrifice fly, capping a 2-run fourth for Kansas City and putting the floundering Angels in a 7–2 hole.

The Royals' final run of the game was delivered in the sixth inning. Omar Infante walked, went to second base on an Escobar single, and scored from second on an Aoki single. Trailing 8–2, the Angels scrounged together one more run with Wade Davis pitching (Howie Kendrick doubled, to third on an Erick Aybar single, scoring on a Josh Hamilton ground out), but closer Greg Holland's effort was superb, racking three straight outs, two on strikeouts. The Royals advanced to the ALCS, and the Angels' highly anticipated season ended, with star center fielder Mike Trout striking out swinging.

The Baltimore Orioles had defeated the Detroit Tigers earlier in the day, securing their ticket to the ALCS. With the Royals having last reached the World Series in 1985 and the Orioles having last reached the World Series in 1983, the 2014 World Series is guaranteed to have a participant that has been absent from it for at least the last twenty-nine years.

American League Championship Series

Main article: 2014 American League Championship Series

Game 1, October 10

8:07 p.m. EDT at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Kansas City	0	0	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	8	12	1
Baltimore	0	0	1	0	3	1	0	0	0	1	6	14	1
WP: Wade Davis   LP: Darren O'Day   Sv: Greg Holland Home runs: KC: Alcides Escobar (1), Alex Gordon (1), Mike Moustakas (3) BAL: None

For the fourth time in five games, the Royals broke an extra-innings tie, and for the third time in four games did so via longballs. Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas both crushed respective solo and two-run home runs to combine for a three-run top of the tenth for Kansas City. The twin home runs came off of Orioles pitchers Brian Matusz and Darren O'Day. Salvador Pérez was on first base during Moustakas' home run, which proved to be the difference as the Orioles did manage to score one run in the bottom of the tenth before closer Greg Holland composed himself to record the final out. The Royals' offensive explosion in the tenth saved them from a potentially devastating situation in the ninth inning, when they failed to score a run despite having the bases loaded with no outs.

Kansas City had been aided previously in the game by an Alcides Escobar solo home run and an Alex Gordon 3-RBI double, both in the third inning. They added a run in the fifth when Billy Butler hit a sacrifice fly to score Lorenzo Cain, who had doubled. The Royals' bats then remained quiet until their game-winning performance in the tenth.

Baltimore struck for one run in the third inning (Nick Markakis scoring from third on an Adam Jones line drive) and for three runs in the fifth inning (Alejandro De Aza scored from second on a Nelson Cruz double, Cruz and Jones scored from second and third on a Ryan Flaherty line drive). The Orioles tied the score at 5–5 in the bottom of the sixth inning, as reliever Brandon Finnegan suffered some shakiness, walking Jonathan Schoop and surrendering a Nick Markakis line drive. Both stole bases with De Aza at the plate to advance to second and third base, and Schoop came home on a sacrifice fly by De Aza.

No scoring occurred in the seventh, eighth, or ninth innings. Wade Davis earned the win for the Royals, striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth, paving the way for Kansas City's three-run tenth.

Game 2, October 11

4:07 p.m. EDT at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kansas City	2	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	2	6	13	1
Baltimore	0	1	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	4	9	1
WP: Wade Davis (2–0)   LP: Darren O'Day (0–2)   Sv: Greg Holland (2) Home runs: KC: Mike Moustakas (4) BAL: Adam Jones (1)

The Royals won only their second nine-inning game of the postseason, but still had to resort to late-game heroics to do so. With the score tied in the top of the ninth and with Darren O'Day pitching for the Orioles, Kansas City's Omar Infante hit a single toward third base. Infante was replaced by pinch runner Terrance Gore, and O'Day was relieved by Zach Britton. Mike Moustakas, with three home runs in the postseason, played small ball instead of long ball, laying down a sacrifice bunt to advance Gore to second. Alcides Escobar then doubled to right field to score Gore and give the Royals a 5–4 lead. Kansas City added insurance when Escobar reached third on a fielding error and then strolled home on a single by Dyson. Britton recovered to strike out both Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler, but the Royals' damage had yet again been done, and closer Greg Holland was effective for the second straight game in quelling an Orioles rally attempt.

The Royals had struck first at Camden Yards on this Saturday afternoon, with Hosmer driving in Nori Aoki and Lorenzo Cain in the top of the first inning. The O's halved the lead in the bottom of the second, milking one run out of a succession of walks and a sacrifice fly from starter Yordano Ventura, although Ventura composed himself sufficiently to ward off further Baltimore offense. Kansas City added a third run in the top of the third inning, as Cain singled, advanced to third base on a Hosmer line drive, and scored on a Butler double.

Baltimore roared back in the bottom of the third, however, as Adam Jones hit a line drive home run with Alejandro De Aza on base, pulling the Orioles even with the Royals.

With the score tied 3–3, each team scored one more run before a 4–4 stalemate that held until Kansas City's two-run ninth. In the top of the fourth inning, Mike Moustakas crushed his fourth home run of the playoffs off of Oriole starter Bud Norris. Baltimore pulled even again in the bottom of the fifth inning, as De Aza singled, advanced to third base on a Jones single, and made it to home plate during a force out at second base.

Neither starter lasted beyond the sixth inning, Ventura being pulled after 5.2 innings and Norris after only 4.1. Both recorded three strikeouts. The winning and losing pitchers, Wade Davis for Kansas City and Darren O'Day for Baltimore, were the same as in Game 1.

Game 3, October 14

7:07 p.m. CDT at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Baltimore	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	0
Kansas City	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	X	2	7	0
WP: Jason Frasor (1-0)   LP: Wei-Yin Chen (0-1)   Sv: Greg Holland (3)

Kansas City's Jeremy Guthrie pitched five solid innings and the Royals' bullpen was lights out during a 2–1 Game 3 victory that was less eventful and lower scoring than any of the Royals' previous postseason games. The Orioles struck first in the second inning, when Steve Pearce doubled and was then batted in by J. J. Hardy, but that was all the offense Baltimore would demonstrate. The Royals tied the score in the bottom of the fourth, as Lorenzo Cain scored from third base on an Alex Gordon ground ball. Kansas City then took the lead in the sixth, as Jarrod Dyson, pinch running for Nori Aoki, who had singled, moved from first to third base on a hit by Eric Hosmer, and then came to home plate on a sacrifice fly from Billy Butler. Royals closer Greg Holland was again effective in silencing any Orioles comeback attempts, retiring three straight batters in the top of the ninth to bring Kansas City within one win of the Fall Classic.

This third game of the series had been originally slated for Monday, but was postponed to Tuesday due to inclement weather. Game 4, which had been slated for Tuesday, was subsequently moved to Wednesday.

Game 4, October 15

3:07 p.m. CDT at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Baltimore	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	1
Kansas City	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	X	2	5	0
WP: Jason Vargas   LP: Miguel González   Sv: Greg Holland Home runs: BAL: Ryan Flaherty KC: None

The Royals would need only two first-inning runs and solid pitching from Jason Vargas to propel themselves into the World Series with an 8–0 postseason record and complete the sweep of Baltimore. Kansas City's lone offensive rally began with Alcides Escobar reaching first base and Nori Aoki being hit by a pitch to move Escobar to second. Following a ground ball by Eric Hosmer, a missed catch error by the Orioles' Caleb Joseph enabled both Escobar and Aoki to score and Hosmer to reach second base. The Orioles' lone run came via a Ryan Flaherty solo home run. Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis again proved unhittable in relief, and closer Greg Holland recorded his fourth straight save.

World Series

Main article: 2014 World Series

The Royals faced the San Francisco Giants. The Royals were granted home-field advantage in the World Series after the American League won the All-Star Game.

Game 1, October 21

7:07 p.m. CDT at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
San Francisco	3	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	0	7	10	1
Kansas City	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	4	0
WP: Madison Bumgarner (1–0)   LP: James Shields (0–1) Home runs: SF: Hunter Pence KC: Salvador Pérez

San Francisco starter Madison Bumgarner was brilliant through seven innings of work, surrendering only one RBI—a Salvador Pérez home run—and getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the third inning, and Hunter Pence delivered three RBIs, including a two-run home run, as the Giants handed the Royals their first postseason loss since Game 4 of the 1985 World Series. Kansas City's previously potent bats fell flat against Bumgarner. Trailing 4–0, they threatened briefly in the third inning when Lorenzo Cain came back from an 0–2 count to walk and load the bases with two outs, Omar Infante and Mike Moustakas having reached base previously. But Eric Hosmer grounded out with the bases loaded to preserve Bumgarner's shutout, broken up by only Perez's solo long ball.

Game 2, October 22

7:07 p.m. CDT at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
San Francisco	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	9	0
Kansas City	1	1	0	0	0	5	0	0	X	7	10	0
WP: Kelvin Herrera (1–0)   LP: Jake Peavy (0–1) Home runs: SF: Gregor Blanco KC: Omar Infante

The Royals and Giants battled to a 2–2 stalemate through five innings, until Kansas City's offense ignited–and San Francisco's pitching melted–in the sixth. The Giants used five pitchers in one inning as Lorenzo Cain scored from second base on a hit by Billy Butler, Salvador Pérez hit a 2RBI double scoring Eric Hosmer and Terrance Gore, and Omar Infante blasted a home run to left field, scoring himself and Perez. The Giants went limp offensively after the Royals' five-run inning, and never closed the 7–2 gap. Kansas City's Kelvin Herrera–Wade Davis–Greg Holland relief lineup again kept the lead intact.

The Royals' victory evens the World Series at one game apiece and thus forces a Game 5 on Sunday, October 26.

Game 3, October 24

5:07 p.m. PDT at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kansas City	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	3	6	0
San Francisco	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	4	0
WP: Jeremy Guthrie   LP: Tim Hudson   Sv: Greg Holland

The Royals took a 2–1 series lead in the first tilt of the Fall Classic that was a closely contested pitchers' duel instead of a lopsided hitting spree, as Games 1 and 2 had been. Kansas City hung one run on the Giants in the top of the first inning (Alcides Escobar doubling, and then advancing to third and scoring on two ground outs). However, the majority of offense came in the sixth. Still holding onto a 1–0 cushion, the Royals began a two-run inning as Escobar singled. Alex Gordon doubled, scoring Escobar. Following a Lorenzo Cain ground out, San Francisco starter Tim Hudson, who had pitched 5 2/3 innings, was relieved by Javier López, but López could not completely shut down the Royals' offense, allowing Eric Hosmer to single to center field, scoring Gordon, before he struck out Mike Moustakas to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Giants gave Kansas City some pitching hiccups of their own. Brandon Crawford scored from first base on a Michael Morse double. Kelvin Herrera was then summoned to replace starter Jeremy Guthrie. Again, as with López in the top of the inning, the presence of the new pitcher Herrera did not immediately stop the bleeding for Kansas City, as Morse advanced to third base and then scored on respective Joe Panik and Buster Posey ground outs. Herrera kept San Francisco to a two-run inning as heavy hitting Pablo Sandoval grounded out.

The Royals' bullpen, this time adding Brandon Finnegan to the usual late-inning Herrera–Wade Davis–Greg Holland lineup, kept the Giants at bay for the remaining three innings. Kansas City never recorded an insurance run to pad their 3–2 lead, but the closer Holland racked up three straight outs to secure a Royals victory without further rebut.

Game 4, October 25

5:07 p.m. PDT at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kansas City	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	12	1
San Francisco	1	0	1	0	2	3	4	0	0	11	16	0
WP: Yusmeiro Petit   LP: Brandon Finnegan

The World Series was forced to at least a sixth game back in Kansas City following a definitive and conclusive victory by the Giants in which they attacked the Royals' bullpen in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, especially rookie Brandon Finnegan, who surrendered five earned runs. Hunter Pence, Pablo Sandoval, and Joe Panik all had multi-RBI games for San Francisco. Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Omar Infante, and Salvador Pérez had combined for a four-run fourth inning for the Royals, who held a 4–2 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth, when the Giants tied the game with Pence and Juan Pérez RBIs, one with Jason Frasor pitching, the other with Danny Duffy on the mound. Finnegan then replaced Duffy prior to San Francisco's three-run sixth, which included a 2-RBI line drive from Sandoval and a Brandon Belt RBI single. The Giants added further insult to injury with a four-run seventh.

The Royals never scored in the game outside of their four-run third inning, and this time it was the Giants who used an effective lineup of seventh, eighth, and ninth-inning relievers to quell any further Kansas City threat.

Game 5, October 26

5:07 p.m. PDT at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Kansas City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
San Francisco	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	3	X	5	12	0
WP: Madison Bumgarner   LP: James Shields

Madison Bumgarner was the only pitcher the Giants required to take a 3–2 lead in the World Series over the Royals, again puzzling Kansas City hitters as he had in Game 1. Kansas City starter James Shields was more effective than four games earlier, only surrendering two runs across seven innings of work, but the Giants added three runs insurance off Royals relievers Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis. San Francisco's five runs were delivered by only two batters: Juan Pérez, who batted in two, and Brandon Crawford, who drove in three.

This was the fourth postseason shutout suffered by the Royals in franchise history, following Game 1 of the 1981 American League Division Series, Game 4 of the 1984 American League Championship Series, and Game 4 of the 1985 World Series.

Game 6, October 28

7:07 p.m. CDT at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
San Francisco	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
Kansas City	0	7	1	0	1	0	1	0		10	9	0
WP: Yordano Ventura   LP: Jake Peavy Home runs: SF: None KC: Mike Moustakas

Lorenzo Cain drove in three runs, and Mike Moustakas batted in two as the Royals forced a decisive seventh game in domineering fashion, saddling Giants starter Jake Peavy for five earned runs as part of a seven-run second inning. Peavy's struggles came on the heels of a 7–2 Royals victory in Game 2 for which he was also charged with the loss. Contrarily, Kansas City's Yordano Ventura pitched seven innings and only surrendered three hits. Ventura honored St. Louis Cardinals outfielder and fellow Dominican Republic countryman Oscar Taveras, who had died two days earlier in a car crash, with the message "R.I.P. O.T. #18" scrawled onto his cap. ^[6] When Kansas City turned to its bullpen, it appeared to save Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis, and Greg Holland for Game 7, using Jason Frasor and Tim Collins instead.

Game 7, October 29

7:07 p.m. CDT at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
San Francisco	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	8	1
Kansas City	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	6	0
WP: Jeremy Affeldt (1-0)   LP: Jeremy Guthrie (1-1)   Sv: Madison Bumgarner (1)

The Royals were 90 feet away from tying the decisive seventh game at three runs apiece in the bottom of the ninth, having trailed by a run for the previous five innings. Left fielder Alex Gordon hit a controversial two out single, which was dramatically followed up with two fielding errors by San Francisco's center fielder Gregor Blanco and left fielder Juan Perez, allowing Gordon to reach third standing up. Unfortunately for Kansas City, Salvador Pérez, the next batter, popped a ball up into foul territory on a 2–2 count, which was easily caught by Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval to give San Francisco their third World Series victory in five seasons and crush Kansas City's Cinderella run through the postseason. Madison Bumgarner worked on short rest for San Francisco; although he did not start the game, he came into relieve Jeremy Affeldt (who had himself relieved starter Tim Hudson) in the fifth inning and pitched five innings in a masterful performance that prevented the Royals' offense from igniting. Bumgarner was awarded a save; the win went to Affeldt. No scoring occurred after the fourth inning, when Pablo Sandoval came home from third on a one-out hit to right field by Michael Morse. This would prove to be the World Series-winning run for the Giants. Prior to the fourth inning, both teams scored two runs each in the second inning. ^[7] Alex Gordon and Omar Infante batted in the Royals' only runs. ^[8]

Postseason game log

2014 Kansas City Royals Postseason Game Log (11–4)
AL Wild Card Game vs. Oakland Athletics # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Series 1 September 30 Athletics 9–8 (12) Frasor (1–0) Otero (0–1) 40,502 1–0
AL Division Series vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Series 1 October 2 @ Angels 3–2 (11) Duffy (1–0) Salas (0–1) Holland (1) 45,321 1–0 2 October 3 @ Angels 4–1 (11) Finnegan (1–0) Jepsen (0–1) Holland (2) 45,361 2–0 3 October 5 Angels 8–3 Shields (1–0) Wilson (0–1) 40,657 3–0
AL Championship Series vs. Baltimore Orioles # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Series 1 October 10 @ Orioles 8–6 (10) Davis (1–0) O'Day (0–1) Holland (1) 47,124 1–0 2 October 11 @ Orioles 6–4 Davis (2–0) O'Day (0–2) Holland (2) 46,912 2–0 3 October 14 Orioles 2–1 Frasor (1–0) Chen (0–1) Holland (3) 40,183 3–0 4 October 15 Orioles 2–1 Vargas (1–0) González (0–1) Holland (4) 40,468 4–0
World Series vs. San Francisco Giants # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Series 1 October 21 Giants 1–7 Bumgarner (1–0) Shields (0–1) 40,459 0–1 2 October 22 Giants 7–2 Herrera (1–0) Peavy (0–1) 40,446 1–1 3 October 24 @ Giants 3–2 Guthrie (1–0) Hudson (0–1) Holland (1) 43,020 2–1 4 October 25 @ Giants 4–11 Petit (1–0) Finnegan (0–1) 43,066 2–2 5 October 26 @ Giants 0–5 Bumgarner (2–0) Shields (0–2) 43,087 2–3 6 October 28 Giants 10–0 Ventura (1–0) Peavy (0–2) 40,372 3–3 7 October 29 Giants 2–3 Affeldt (1–0) Guthrie (1–1) Bumgarner (1) 40,535 3–4

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Omaha Storm Chasers	Pacific Coast League	Brian Poldberg
AA	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Texas League	Vance Wilson
A	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Carolina League	Darryl Kennedy
A	Lexington Legends	South Atlantic League	Brian Buchanan
Rookie	Burlington Royals	Appalachian League	Tommy Shields
Rookie	Idaho Falls Chukars	Pioneer League	Omar Ramírez

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Omaha ^[9]

References

• Kansas City Royals: Official web site

1. Royals Clinch First Postseason Berth Since 1985, New York Times
2. "Royals' Raul Ibanez gives teammates goosebumps". USA Today .
3. Andy McCullogh (October 20, 2014). "As focus faded and losses picked up in late July, Royals changed their game". The Kansas City Star . Retrieved October 27, 2014.
4. "Royals Clinch Playoff Spot with Win over White Sox". September 26, 2014.
5. Rustin Dodd (October 3, 2014). "Royals catcher Salvador Pérez survives head injury in Game 2". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
6. "Kansas City Royals' Yordano Ventura pays homage to Dominican friend Oscar Taveras". The Toronto Sun . Reuters. October 28, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
7. "San Francisco Giants beat Kansas City Royals: 2014 World Series result". Guardian. October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
8. "Madison Bumgarner, Giants hold off Royals to win World Series". ESPN. October 30, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
9. Leventhal, Josh, ed. (2014). Baseball America 2015 Almanac. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN   978-1-932391-54-1.

External links

• 2014 Kansas City Royals Schedule and Statistics at MLB.com
• 2014 Kansas City Royals Schedule and Statistics at ESPN.com
• 2014 Kansas City Royals at Baseball-Reference.com