Six in the Sixth! Royals Amazing Inning Leads to 9-6 Win Over Boston

Wow.

Words really fail. I just returned from the game and that felt like a playoff atmosphere. The Royals staged a six-run sixth inning to rally back from a three run deficit and take a 9-6 lead they would not relinquish. They scored five of the runs with two outs in the inning, and only had one extra base hit in the frame. It was....glorious.

Ervin Santana struggled mightily tonight with uncharacteristic lack of command. Erv was lifted in the fourth after allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks, including a blast from David Ortiz. But the offense was able to pick him up. The Royals got early solo home runs from Justin Maxwell and Alex Gordon, and after three innings the game was tied 3-3. Santana would falter in the fourth, giving up three in the inning and yielding to Francisely Bueno.

The Royals tagged Peavy pretty well throughout the game, but in the sixth the flood of hits broke through the dam. Maxwell got the inning started with a single. Moose adjusted nicely and flicked a single to left-center. Eskie slapped one the other way to score a run. George Kottaras would draw one of his two walks on the night. After a pinch-hit pop out by Miguel Tejada, David Lough would plate a run on a line drive that nearly went over the head of Shane Victorino, causing a close play at the plate to score Moustakas.

And there was more! Hosmer threw his bat over the plate to slap a ground ball through the left side of the infield to score a third run. Billy Butler quickly abused new pitcher Pedro Beato with a hustle RBI double. An Alex Gordon walk was followed by another Justin Maxwell single, plating the sixth run of the inning. When the smoke cleared, the Royals led 9-6.

Tim Collins had a shaky eighth, but a clutch double play by Mike Moustakas got the team out of the jam. It was great to see the team pick each other up. They were loose, having fun, and never got down even when an experienced, more talented team got up by three runs.

This is fun. I have no expectations anymore on how this will end but I am all in to enjoy the ride. I suggest you do the same.