The 2015 World Series ended just as dramatically as it began. The unstoppable Kansas City Royals rallied back from a two-run deficit to tie the game in the ninth inning against the New York Mets, forcing the game into extra innings. Both offenses stagnated in overtime until Kansas City broke the game open in the 12th inning, scoring five runs and clinching its first championship in 30 years. The Royals were consistent throughout the season and their journey can be summarized by the three R’s: redemption, resilience and relentlessness.
Redemption
After losing to the San Francisco Giants in the 2014 World Series, the Royals wanted to prove the 2014 season was not just an aberration, but rather a warning to the MLB. Since spring training began, Kansas City has worked tirelessly to improve in every aspect of its game to separate itself in the AL Central.
Management strengthened its already talented roster by acquiring starting pitcher Johnny Cueto and second baseman Ben Zobrist at the trade deadline.
Kansas City certainly wasn’t perfect in the playoffs and hit their fair share of rough patches but impressive comebacks chronicled their path to the World Series pennant. They defeated the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays en route to their second straight American League pennant.
After winning the first two games at home, the Royals headed to Citi Field hoping to clinch in New York. The team was routed by Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard in Game 3, but came from behind to beat New York in Game 4. Kansas City was ahead in the series 3-1 by Game 5, looking to close the series out, but were held scoreless by Matt Harvey for eight innings. Mets manager Terry Collins made a controversial call to leave Harvey in for the ninth inning, when the Royals did what they do best, rallying to a 2-2 tie. Kansas City eventually stormed ahead in extra innings, were able to hold on and finally took the crown. A total turnaround from 2014, the Royals were the ones this year standing in front of the opposing fans, getting the hardware they yearned for.
Resiliency
The Royals bled resiliency in the postseason. Out of 90 total runs, 51 of those came in the seventh inning or later. The Mets led all five games, but only came out with one win. In three of the four games the Royals won, they trailed until the eighth inning before tying or winning the game.
Kansas City showed that the game isn’t over until the final out. With closer Jeurys Familia on the mound, the logical thought was that the Mets would get the win. But the Royals found ways to get around one of the league’s most dominant closers and send shockwaves through the baseball community.
Relentlessness
If there was one word associated with the Royals, it was relentless. They destroyed Jacob deGrom in Game 2, getting six hits and four runs off the NL Cy Young candidate.
“Keep the line moving” was a theme for the Royals when they got on their hot streak and wouldn’t stop. Their powerful bats just depleted every opposing pitcher.
What Went Wrong for Mets
The Mets gained traction as a title contender after acquiring slugger Yoenis Cespedes at the trade deadline, as no one expected them to be playing October ball. They seemed to have it all to win the title, but too many things went wrong.
Daniel Murphy, who was the Mets' early postseason hero, made some crucial fielding errors that arguably cost New York the championship.
Harvey insisted on Terry Collins allowing him to have a shot at a complete game in Game 5. But after walking the first batter and giving up an RBI double to the next, Harvey was done and Familia blew his third save of the World Series.
Catcher Salvador Perez was named World Series MVP after hitting .364 in the series and knocking in the tying run of Sunday’s game. Congratulations, Royals, on taking the crown.