It looked like the Giants would seize upon their Game 1 momentum by scoring early and often to put the game away. But this time, a first-inning run did not set the tone for the rest of the game.
Billy Butler leads the Royals bats back
Gregor Blanco's leadoff homer for the Giants (the first in the franchise's World Series history) didn't deter the Royals offense. Designated hitter Billy Butler tied the game with an RBI hit in the bottom of the first, then put the Royals ahead to stay with a sixth-inning hit.
Butler is the first player in Royals history to have both a tying hit and go-ahead hit in a World Series game. He's the first Royals player to have both in a postseason game since George Brett in Game 3 of the 1985 ALCS.
The Royals scored five runs in their half of the sixth inning. Omar Infante's home run gave the Royals a comfortable cushion. It was his first career postseason home run, coming in his 145th postseason at-bat.
The Elias Sports Bureau notes that only two players went longer before their first postseason homer -- Mark Lemke (192nd at-bat) and Lonnie Smith (170th).
The home run came against Giants reliever Hunter Strickland, the fifth homer Strickland has allowed this postseason. Strickland and Chris Narveson are the only relievers to allow five homers in a single postseason.
It was a rare off day for Giants pitchers in such a big spot. They had allowed only eight runs in their past seven World Series games combined.
Difference-maker: Herrera's sixth inning
Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera earned the win, escaping through trouble in the sixth inning by getting two outs on nine pitches.
Eight of the nine pitches were 100 mph or faster. Herrera then threw six more pitches of at least 100 mph in the seventh inning. His 14 such pitches in this game were a career high.
Herrera improved the record of the Royals bullpen to 7-0 this postseason. Theirs is the first bullpen to start a postseason with seven straight winning decisions. The only other bullpen to win seven times in a postseason was the 2003 Marlins.
Notes, stats and streaks
This is the first time the Royals have won either Game 1 or Game 2 of a World Series.
The Royals are 9-1 this postseason and have won 12 of their past 13 postseason games dating back to the 1985 World Series. They've won Game 2 of all three postseason series in 2014.
The Giants had their seven-game World Series winning streak snapped. This was their third loss in their past 19 postseason games.
Elias Sports Bureau Stat of the Night: Giants' busy bullpen
The Giants used five pitchers to get through the bottom of the sixth inning.
The last team to use five pitchers in an inning in a World Series game was the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals, who used five in an inning in Game 7 of the World Series against none other than the Royals.
The Royals won that game 11-0 to win the World Series.
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