Royals beat Orioles 1-0 in first postseason game since 2015, one game away from ALDS

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Royals starting pitcher Cole Ragans comes off the mound celebrating/ Photo courtesy of the Royals on X

By MATT PIKE

St. Joseph Post

In what became a pitchers duel between Royals starter Cole Ragans and Orioles starter Corbin Burnes, it was Kansas City that came out on top 1-0, taking a 1-0 series lead in the AL Wildcard Series. 

It was a brilliant postseason debut for Ragans, who even escaped a jam in the fifth inning with runners on the corners, striking out catcher James McCann and shortstop Gunnar Henderson to get out of the inning.  Ragans pitched six innings and gave up four hits, striking out eight.

Ragans would also earn the win for his efforts, thanks to Bobby Witt Jr. After Maikel Garcia walked, stole second base, and later advanced to third on a Michael Massey groundout, Witt Jr would single into center field to score Garcia for the lone run of the game. 

Ragans did seem displeased to be pulled from the game to start the seventh inning, but Sam Long, Kris Bubic, and Lucas Erceg would combine to give up one hit, walk two, striking out two as well to end the game, Erceg earning his first save of the postseason. 

Kansas City and Baltimore each had five hits, with five separate Royals players getting one hit each.  The leading Orioles hitter was Cedric Mullens who was 2 for 3 with a double. 

Game two of the series will be on Wednesday, all games in the best of three series happening in Baltimore, with Seth Lugo taking the mound for the Royals and the Orioles starter to be determined.  First pitch will be at 3:38pm, with pregame at 3 on KFEQ.  The game will be televised on ESPN.