For the third time in five games, the Kansas City Royals rallied from a late deficit to win. With two runs in the ninth and five more in the 12th, the Royals won their first World Series championship since 1985 with a 7-2 win over the New York Mets in Game 5 on Sunday night at Citi Field in New York.
2015 World Series Game 5 results: Royals capture first title in 30 years
Kansas City won its first World Series championship since 1985.
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After catcher Salvador Perez opened the 12th inning with a single, upping his 2015 World Series batting average to .364 (8-for-22), pinch runner Jarrod Dyson stole second base, advanced to third base on a ground ball, then scored the go-ahead run on a single to left field by little-used infielder Christian Colon.
It was the first game this postseason for Colon, who was also 1-for-1 in the postseason for the Royals in their 2014 October journey.
But the inning didn't end there. Doubles by Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain were mixed in with an error and an intentional walk, adding four more runs to the lead.
It wasn't a save situation, but Royals relief ace extraordinaire Wade Davis recorded the final three outs to clinch the title, in total Royals fashion.
The Mets led 2-0 entering the ninth and Matt Harvey lobbied to remain in the game, but he was greeted in the ninth by a walk to Lorenzo Cain and an RBI double by Eric Hosmer, putting the tying run in scoring position with nobody out.
Jeurys Familia was called in to duty for a third consecutive night and pitched well, allowing a pair of soft ground balls to his first two batters. Unfortunately for the Mets, Hosmer advanced on each grounder, including a mad dash home after third baseman David Wright threw to third base for the second out of the inning. Any hopes of the throw home by Lucas Duda ending the game quickly vanished when his errant toss lacked any semblance of accuracy and flew to the backstop.
The Royals won Game 1 after trailing in the ninth, and won Game 4 after trailing in the eighth.
Wow: If #Royals win tonight, they will be 1st team EVER with 3 or more wins in World Series after trailing in 8th or later. (h/t STATS LLC)
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 2, 2015
Familia is the first pitcher to blow three saves in one World Series, though putting the blame on his shoulders seems cruel and unusual. He entered each of his three save opportunities in this series with only a one-run lead, and with the tying run already in scoring position.
Familia was able to recover after the ninth inning to pitch a scoreless 10th inning with two strikeouts. Opponents hit just 3-for-18 (.167) with a home run, no walks, and three strikeouts in the World Series.
Nearly Tom Terrific
Harvey was brilliant, pitching scoreless ball through eight innings, with nine strikeouts. The nine strikeouts were tied for second-most by a Mets pitcher in a World Series game, three behind Tom Seaver’s franchise record of 12, set in Game 3 of the 1973 World Series.
But he ended with a no-decision, having allowed two runs to the two batters he faced in the ninth.
Sit back and relax
This marks the second World Series ever, joining 1924 (Games 1 and 7) to feature multiple games of at least 12 innings.
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) November 2, 2015
Men of steal
Dyson’s steal in the 12th inning was the fourth stolen base of the game for Kansas City, who was 7-for-7 in steal attempts in the World Series. The Royals stole 14 bases in 17 attempts in their 16 postseason games in 2015.
Setting the table
Curtis Granderson had a productive season on offense for the Mets, hitting .259/.364/.457 with 26 home runs, 33 doubles, 91 walks and 98 runs scored during the regular season. But in the postseason he was even better, reaching base by hit or walk in all 14 games.
Granderson’s home run in the first inning was his third of the postseason, during which he hit .283/.375/.491 with 12 RBI and 10 runs scored. Coupled with the inside-the-park home run by Escobar to open Game 1, the 2015 World Series joined select company.
This is the 2nd WS w/ multiple leadoff HRs in the series, joining 1969 (BAL’s Don Buford in G1 off Seaver and NYM's Agee off Palmer in G3).
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) November 2, 2015 Pitchers hitting
Volquez singled to right field to open the third inning, one of only five hits allowed by Harvey on the night. During this World Series, Royals and Mets pitchers have combined to go 2-for-10 (.200) at the plate.
But that’s still better than designated hitters for both teams, who are a combined 1-for-17 (.059) with one walk and a hit by pitch.
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