The Royals won it in 14 innings in epic fashion. And we're only just beginning.
It was arguably one of the most pulsating, tense and unforgettable Game 1s in World Series history.
From the moment of the first pitch, when Royals starter Edinson Volquez began hurling two-seam fastballs unaware of the tragic news that awaited him after the game, that his father had passed away earlier in the day, to the Bill Bucknerish boot by Royals Gold Glove first baseman Eric Hosmer that gave the Mets a one-run lead in the eighth, to the dramatic game-tying homer by Alex Gordon in the ninth, and finally to Hosmer's redemption, a game-winning sacrifice fly in the 14th, it was all there. A night packed with drama.
And in the end, in what matched for the third time the longest game in World Series history, the Royals survived, 5-4, in a Tuesday game that lasted five hours and nine minutes, stretching into Wednesday morning.
Alcides Escobar kicked things off for the Royals by hitting an inside-the-park home run on the first pitch he saw.
First pitch inside the park home run. This team is silly.
— Sam Mellinger (@mellinger) October 28, 2015
Well that's a start! Escobar with a long drive to left that somehow evades everyone for an inside-the-park home run! 1–0 Royals in the first
— SI MLB (@si_mlb) October 28, 2015
How about THAT start to the World Series for the Royals. One pitch, one INSIDE THE PARK HR! Crazy.
— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) October 28, 2015
WE HAVE THE LEAD ALREADY! 1 PITCH! 1 INSIDE THE PARK HOMERUN FOR ESCOBAR! OH MY GOD.
— Jessica Lütz ❁ (@CutezieLutzie) October 28, 2015
The Mets never trailed in the NLCS. They trail after one Kansas City batter in the WS. Alcides Escobar inside-the-park HR.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) October 28, 2015
Escobar, as always, was first-pitch swinging in that at-bat; why Harvey threw him a first-pitch strike, who knows.
— SI MLB (@si_mlb) October 28, 2015
Probably the best first pitch hit in @Royals World Series history! Escobar with the inside the park home run to set the tone! #TakeTheCrown
— Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (@repcleaver) October 28, 2015
In the top of the fifth, I was tucking Faye into bed and watching the game on my phone when the Fox broadcast feed went out. Twitter rejoiced when Joe Buck and Harold Reynolds were canned for the MLB Network feed with Matt Vasgersian and John Smoltz doing the analysis.
Pretty sure God just told Joe Buck to shut up! #TechnicalDifficulties #ForeverRoyal
— Jane Schwabe (@jschwabe) October 28, 2015
It takes an act of the baseball gods to get Matt Vasgersian and John Smoltz to take over the World Series call. Prayers answered.
— Tom Hoffarth (@tomhoffarth) October 28, 2015
Apparently having to rely on umpires to call a baseball game wasn't acceptable to #MLB.
— Phil Rosenthal (@phil_rosenthal) October 28, 2015
Anyone have a power cord? #WorldSeries15 #poweroutage
— Steve Serrano (@SteveSerrano) October 28, 2015
The Fox feed came back for the bottom of the fifth.
Dammit! Buck found the MLB international feed. SECURITY!!!! #TakeTheCrown #Royals
— HC (@Heycameraman) October 28, 2015
Ben Zobrist scored on Eric Hosmer’s sacrifice fly to make it 2-3 in the bottom of the sixth. Lorenzo Cain stole second and scored on Mike Moustakas’ line drive up the middle.
Mike Moustakas would make for a great #DesignatedDriver !
He knows how to get others home safe !!
#TakeTheCrown pic.twitter.com/oS56iw4E0l
— Trooper Ben (@TrooperBenKHP) October 28, 2015
When Hosmer made the error at first, I immediately thought of Bill Buckner. I wasn't the only one.
@JadeMcCarthy the first World Series that I can remember watching.
— Timmy Linscott (@RedSoxTimmy) October 28, 2015
After that, I spent a large portion of the ensuing innings dozing to sleep and trying really hard to hold on for the ending no matter what team won.
Then Alex Gordon did something in the bottom of the ninth. I sat straight up on the couch. And my Twitter lit up.
TIE GAME! Gordon drives one to center for a solo homer, and it's 4–4 in the ninth!
— SI MLB (@si_mlb) October 28, 2015
Get the hell out.
— Jen Lada (@JenLada) October 28, 2015
This game just gets better and better and better.
— Joe Posnanski (@JPosnanski) October 28, 2015
ALEX GORDON IS A BEAUTIFUL HUMAN BEING AND I LOVE HIM SO VERY VERY MUCH
— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) October 28, 2015
GORDO TIES THE GAME HALLELUJAH THERE IS A GOD
— Jessica Lütz ❁ (@CutezieLutzie) October 28, 2015
I have gone control-A delete on a column so many times with this team.
— Sam Mellinger (@mellinger) October 28, 2015
The Royals had plenty more chances to win it in extras. Chris Young -- who nobody wanted last spring and has been huge in the clutch for the Royals -- held the Mets offense in check, striking out the side in the top of the 12th.
Chris Young strikes out the side. In retrospect, that was a good early March signing.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) October 28, 2015
Your regular reminder: No one offered Chris Young a contract until March.
— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) October 28, 2015
This will be everyone tomorrow at work with how long this game is going #ForeverRoyal pic.twitter.com/31jms4iaOb
— KCTV5 - Kansas City (@KCTV5) October 28, 2015
The game headed into the 14th inning as the clock struck midnight.
It is now officially Wednesday. Game 2 will be played later today.
— Sam Mellinger (@mellinger) October 28, 2015
In the bottom of the 14th, Alcides Escobar singled on an error. Ben Zobrist singled. Lorenzo Cain was intentionally walked. Escobar scored the winning run on a sac fly by Eric Hosmer. The game lasted five hours, nine minutes.
Eric Hosmer, from goat to game-winner, in the span of like three hours.
— Sam Mellinger (@mellinger) October 28, 2015
Pretty solid start to the series.
I mean, I guess. #TakeTheCrown
— Eric Stonestreet (@ericstonestreet) October 28, 2015
Sleep is now permitted.
— Royals Nation (@RoyalsNation) October 28, 2015
— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2015
The Royals showed their knack for comebacks again. How many more thrills can these guys produce?
In the last 13 months, the Royals have won postseason games in 10 innings, 11 innings (twice), 12 innings, and 14 innings.
— Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) October 28, 2015
And we have Game 2 in a matter of hours.
Speaking of stats. Tonight's game was so loaded with out-there stats ... it was a little silly.
Kansas City is off the charts right now. School principals are telling their teachers and student to wear Royals blue on game days. Businesses are canceling meetings and scheduling employee watch parties instead. The electronic signs in front of schools, churches and businesses. Every conversation starts with Did you watch that game last night!?
This is fun.
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