Royals win wildest Wild Card in 22 photos

The stage is set:

Shields reacts after giving up the 1st-inning homer:

Billy Butler wanders off first in broken 'chaos on the basepaths' play:

Moose and Cain both score in the 3rd:

Shields is pulled after putting 2 men on in the 6th

Ventura brought in on 1 day of rest, gives up 3-run homer:

Shields, man. Shields. #YOSTED

~ The game is now 7-3, Athletics over Royals in the 6th ~

That magical 8th inning

Nori Aoki ties it up in the bottom of the 9th:

Suddenly, Brandon Finnegan:

Josh Reddick scores in the top of the 12th, all hope is lost:

Gomes and Fuld collide on a Hosmer triple in the bottom of the 12th:

Christian Colon hits Hosmer in with an infield single, game tied:

Salvador Perez, 0-5 on the night, does this:

... and utter, glorious madness ensues.

All photos USA TODAY and/or GETTY