KANSAS CITY, Missouri—Lorenzo Cain hit a two-run single and Eric Hosmer lined a two-run double over shortstop in a seven-run second inning as the Kansas City Royals battered the San Francisco Giants, 10-0, Tuesday to force a decisive Game 7 in the World Series.
Yordano Ventura, a 23-year-old rookie pitching with a heavy heart and the initials of late St. Louis outfielder Oscar Taveras on his cap, allowed three hits over seven stifling innings as the Series drew level at 3-3.
“This is what we all prepared for. This is why we play the game,” Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said.
As bouncers rolled by infielders and bloops dropped in front of outfielders, the raucous roar at Kauffman Stadium swelled with every hit in the second and then got louder the rest of the night. Lorenzo Cain looped a two-run single—one of eight Royals to get hits in the seven-run burst—and Hosmer chopped a two-run double over shortstop.
“Guys stepped up in a big way tonight,” Cain said.
Jeremy Guthrie starts Wednesday night for Kansas City and Tim Hudson for San Francisco in a rematch of Game 3, won by Kansas City 3-2. Hudson, 39, will become the oldest Game 7 starter in Series history.
“Jeremy, every time out, gives us a chance to win,” the Royals’ Billy Butler.
Lurking is Madison Bumgarner, ready to pitch in relief after suffocating the Royals on a total of one run in winning Games 1 and 5. Giants manager Bruce Bochy elected not to start him on two days’ rest.
“This guy is human. I mean, you can’t push him that much,” Bochy said. “He’ll be available if we need him, but to start him, I think that’s asking a lot.”
Kansas City can be comfortable in this bit of history: Home teams have won nine straight Game 7s in the Series since Pittsburgh’s victory at Baltimore in 1979, including the Royals’ 11-0 rout of St. Louis in 1985. And the Giants have lost all four of their World Series finales pushed to the limit. AP