ALCS Game 5: Inning-by-inning

1No fast start

A day after putting a four-spot on the board in the first inning, the Royals went down in order against Marco Estrada, proving that Alcides Escobar can indeed make an out when leading off a game. Edinson Volquez looked sharp, too, as the Blue Jays didn’t hit the ball out of the infield.

0-0

KC-TOR

2Toronto takes the lead

The Royals were set down in order again, but the Blue Jays grabbed the lead on Chris Colabello’s solo home run to left-center field with one out. Troy Tulowitzki lined to third baseman Mike Moustakas, and Dioner Navarro drew a walk. But Volquez avoided more trouble when Kevin Pillar lined out to second baseman Ben Zobrist.

1-0

TOR-KC

3Nothing to see here

It was another three-up and three-down inning for Estrada, though Salvador Perez did line out sharply to Tulowitzki at short. Volquez got three ground-outs and the score didn’t change.

1-0

TOR-KC

4Double play, double play

With one swing, Escobar broke up the perfect game with a single to left field. However, Zobrist followed by hitting into a 4-6-3 double play. Jose Bautista opened the inning with an infield single, despite a nice play by Escobar. Edwin Encarnacion’s ground-out forced Bautista at second and Colabello followed by hitting into a 6-4-3 double play.

1-0

TOR-KC

5Still a one-run game

The Royals’ bats remained quiet as Estrada set them down in order again. Volquez allowed a two-out single to Pillar, but Ryan Goins grounded out to Eric Hosmer at first base.

1-0

TOR-KC

6A great gnashing of teeth

The Royals hit two balls to the outfield, which constituted a rally at this point. Volquez didn’t get an out in his half of the inning. Ben Revere walked and Josh Donaldson was hit by a pitch. Volquez and Bautista engaged in a great 10-pitch battle. A couple of close pitches didn’t go Volquez’s way and Bautista walked, loading the bases. Volquez then walked Encarnacion, forcing in a run. While replacing Volquez with Kelvin Herrera, Ned Yost had a few choice words with home-plate umpire Dan Iassonga. Herrera struck out Colabello, but Tulowitzki hit a bases-clearing double.

5-0

TOR-KC

7There’s another run

The beat went on in the seventh. Cain drew a two-out walk, but it didn’t start a rally because Hosmer flied to left and ended the inning. Reliever Danny Duffy took over for the Royals and got two strikeouts. Then he gave up doubles to Donaldson and Bautista, and the Blue Jays exended their lead.

6-0

TOR-KC

8Finally, some good news

The Royals got on the board as Perez hit an opposite-field home run. Alex Gordon followed with a single, and there was a glimmer of hope. Aaron Sanchez took over for Estrada, and Alex Rios greeted him with a single. But the rally ended when Escobar flied to right. Toronto got the run back as Tulowitzki singled with one out. After another out, Pillar doubled home Tulowitzki.

7-1

TOR-KC

9Coming home

Roberto Osuna took over in the ninth for the Blue Jays and got three ground-outs as the Blue Jays stayed alive in the series.

7-1

TOR-KC

This story was originally published October 21, 2015 at 8:22 PM with the headline "ALCS Game 5: Inning-by-inning."