World Series Game 2: Inning-by-inning

1Cueto looks good

Johnny Cueto had a nice start. Curtis Granderson and David Wright grounded out, and Daniel Murphy struck out looking. The Royals went down in order — all on fly balls to Granderson in right.

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2Nice double play

Lucas Duda singled with one out as Mike Moustakas ranged far to his left while already shifted in that direction. But Travid d’Arnaud hit into a 5-4-3 double play. The Royals again failed to reach base against Mets starter Jacob deGrom.

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3Royals get first base runner

After Cueto retired all three Mets, Alex Gordon drew a one-out walk. However, Alex Rios struck out and Alcides Escobar grounded into a fielder’s choice that forced Rios at second.

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4Mets take the lead

Granderson opened the frame with a walk. After Wright popped out to Eric Hosmer at first base, Murphy also walked. Yoenis Cespedes grounded to Moustakas at third base. He stepped on the bag, but his throw to first pulled Hosmer off the base. That allowed Granderson to score. The Royals threatened as Ben Zobrist reached on an error and moved to second on a single by Hosmer. Both runners moved up a base on Kendrys Morales’ grounder to first. Moustakas walked and loaded the bases. But Salvador Perez grounded to short.

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5Keep the line moving

Cueto buzzed through the Mets with little trouble, and then the Royals went to work. Gordon led off with a walk and Rios singled. Escobar failed in a bunt attempt and instead had an RBI single to center that scored Gordon. Zobrist’s grounder to first moved runners to second and third. Lorenzo Cain hit a liner to center, and the runners had to stay put. Hosmer came through with a line-drive single to center that scored Rios and Escobar and put the Royals ahead. But they weren’t done. Morales and Moustakas also singled, with the latter hit scoring Hosmer.

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6Nothing doing

Mets postseason star Murphy struck out and ended another 1-2-3 inning by Cueto, which was met with approval from the 40,410 at Kauffman Stadium. The Mets turned to Hansel Robles, and although a couple of balls were hit hard, the Royals didn’t have a base runner.

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7A perfect 10

Cueto continued to baffle the Mets, striking out Cespedes, and getting Duda and d’Arnaud to hit fly balls. That made it 10 straight Mets that Cueto had set down. Jon Niese relieved for the Mets, and he gave up a one-out walk to Cain. However, Hosmer flied out and Morales struck out.

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8Royals do with defense, offense

Cueto returned for the eighth and as far as the Mets were concerned, it was more of the same. But he did get some help from the defense. Wilmer Flores hit a liner that Moustakas snagged and then Juan Lagares hit a ball off Cueto that Escobar made a nice play on, getting the ball and throwing to first. Moustakas opened the frame with a single past Duda at first and Perez yanked a double down the third-base line. With the infield drawn in a bit, Gordon hit a ball that Flores couldn’t quite field and it turned into an RBI double. Paulo Orlando’s sacrifice fly scored Perez and Escobar tripled to center as Gordon trotted home.

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9Cueto’s gem complete

The crowd serenaded Cueto before he came out of the dugout. He finally appeared and skipped over the foul line on his way to the mound. He then induced grounders from Granderson and Wright. Murphy walked, but Cespedes flied to right. It was a wonderful performance from Cueto.

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This story was originally published October 28, 2015 at 10:22 PM with the headline "World Series Game 2: Inning-by-inning."