It took four hours and five minutes, including a 45-minute half inning, but the Royals have done it again!

Just when we all thought Houston would be advancing onto the ALCS to face the winner of Toronto/Texas, the Royals mounted a comeback that will be remembered in Kansas City equal to the 2014 Wildcard win that put the Royals on the map. 21-year old Houston shortstop Carlos Correa was 4-4 with a pair of homers, but it was his error in the 8^th that everyone will remember.  Deflected off pitcher Tony Sipp’s glove, Correa had the easiest double play in baseball right in front of him.  A Sunday hop gimme right by second base and a slow runner in Kendrys Morales headed to first.  Correa didn’t look the ball into his glove, instead focusing his eyes on second base and the rest is history.  Making it even more special, this all happened moments after the Governor of Texas tweeted congratulations to the Astros for securing the ALDS title.  Amazing.

Instead, the Royals would take a 7-6 lead on that RBI groundout by an ALDS struggling Alex Gordon. Gordon would later say it was the most thrilling groundout to second he’s ever had and wonder out loud just what were the chances of the Royals pulling off the improbable.  According to the computer, the Royals had a 3.2% chance of winning the game when the 8^th inning started, slightly better than the 2.9% chance they had in that Wildcard game a year ago.  I’m sure people in Houston are pointing to the Correa error and saying that was the one that lost the game. Maybe it was, but what fans of both franchises fail to realize is that with young players in the playoffs, this happens. If the Astros were up 6-2 and the Royals scored 7 straight runs and let their bullpen shut it down in a regular season game, Astros fans wouldn’t be pointing to one error in the middle of a 5 run inning and using that as blame for the loss. It’s obvious that errors like that stick out in high pressure situation games. It’s the playoffs, we’re hanging onto every pitch, swing, out, you name it.

One of the things we learned earlier this season is that the Royals can win any type of game. Early on, they were winning high scoring games, low scoring games, blowout games, and come from behind games. The Royals have now won twice in this series, both games with multiple run deficits. It’s the pure fight, or will to win, the Royals have that has kept them alive in the playoffs. Throughout the series, Houston has put up better performances from their starting pitching, and besides the 8^th inning yesterday, has been better offensively. It’s also worth mentioning the Royals have been the kings of hitting solo home runs this series. They had 5 solo shots coming in yesterday, where Salvador Perez and Eric Hosmer each hit two-run homers.

Turning to game 5 tomorrow night in KC, which can be heard on Sports Radio 810, the Royals will send Johnny Cueto to the hill to pitch in a situation he was traded for. He’s hardly been the ace Dayton Moore and Ned Yost sought after near the trade deadline in July, but he can make up for all his bad starts, and prove to Dayton, Ned, and the fans that the half-season experiment with Cueto was the right move. Danny Clinkscale said on the show yesterday that if Cueto wins this game, it doesn’t matter how the three lefties KC traded for him do. Ever.  He’s right. You made the Cueto trade for a winner-take-all type situation in the playoffs. Those three prospects, including Brandon Finnegan, can all turn out to be Cy Young winners and it doesn’t matter as long as Cueto takes care of business tomorrow. If that happens, the trade is a success.

The Royals have yet to have a starter leave the mound with a lead in this series. Royals’ starters are posting an ALDS series ERA over 6 right now, so the fact they are even in a game 5 is pretty remarkable.  Right handed Collin McHugh will start for Houston tomorrow night, and with Astros Manager A.J. Hinch saying after the game that everyone is available for game 5, you would think Dallas Keuchel will get a nod instead of handing the game to the Astros’ bullpen, who did not fare well yesterday. The 27-year old ace threw 124 pitches deep into the 7^th inning on Sunday in the Astros win, but with 3 days rest he will certainly be an option for a few innings.

The Royals have yet to come out and jump on a starter in the way we know they can. That needs to happen tomorrow, as the last thing you want to see is Keuchel out on the mound in the 6^th inning with a lead.

Perhaps the sign of better things was the approach in that magical 8^th inning.  The Royals stopped trying to hit 5-run homers and just squared up the ball and put it in play.  Single, single, single, single, single.  Error.  Boom!  The Royals don’t need to hit a bunch of home runs to advance.  They need better starting pitching, more contact from the hitters and more baserunners.  Put guys on, and put the pressure on that Houston defense.  We all saw Monday what happens when the Royals do that.  Pure magic.