Royals’ Alex Gordon not discouraged by mini-slump in playoffs

The Royals are 9-1 in the postseason. Just think how much better they’ll be when Alex Gordon gets back on track.

Make no mistake, Gordon has contributed mightily to the World Series run at the plate and in the field.

His diving catch and wall-crash grab in left field against the Orioles in the American League Championship Series are why he’s in line for win his fourth Gold Glove, not to mention opposing third-base coaches holding up the stop sign for runners advancing from second on a single to left in fear of testing Gordon’s arm.

At the plate, Gordon’s nine RBIs top all postseason hitters. In successive games, the Division Series clincher against the Angels and the opener against the Orioles, he struck early with bases-clearing doubles. Also in that Baltimore game, Gordon belted a solo home run in the 10th inning that sparked a victory.

But lately the bat has gone silent.

Since that home run against the Orioles, Gordon is zero for 15 with seven strikeouts.

“You have to keep grinding away and move on,” Gordon said.

In the Royals’ 7-2 victory over the Giants on Wednesday, Gordon had a deep fly out to center, one of his best swings since the home run, hit two pop fouls to the left side and flew out to short left. He left two runners in scoring position but teammates picked him up in the sixth when the Royals wound up scoring five.

“I felt comfortable, felt good,” Gordon said. “But you can feel good and not get results.”

For the postseason, Gordon is hitting .176 (six for 34). He’s been through this before.

Over a 10-game stretch in early September, Gordon went two for 31 and saw his average fall from .280 to .267.

But when Gordon gets rolling, he can carry the club. He hit nine of his team-high 19 home runs in August when the Royals went 19-10 and firmly established themselves as a postseason contender.

“Without Gordo’s season we wouldn’t be where we are right now,” first baseman Eric Hosmer said. “That’s the thing about this game, you’re so locked in, so day-to-day I couldn’t even tell you what Gordo’s hitting the last 10 games.”

That’s because the Royals are 9-1 in those games, all in the postseason, and although Gordon has scuffled at the plate recently, it hasn’t cost them victories.

And if the Royals continue to win in the World Series, Gordon said he’ll accept whatever fate awaits him at the plate.

“No one really cares what you’re doing as long as you’re winning,” Gordon said. “I can zero for the next three games as long as we win them.”

This story was originally published October 23, 2014 at 9:33 PM with the headline "Royals’ Alex Gordon not discouraged by mini-slump in playoffs."