Royals win first division title in 30 years

The Kansas City Royals (89-63) have been the best team in the American League for most of the 2015 MLB season, but on Thursday night they officially achieved their ultimate goal.

Pirates 5, Rockies 4 – Pedro Alvarez hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning, and Pittsburgh beat Colorado in Denver to earn its 10,000th win since joining the National League in 1887.

Carlos Carrasco had his A-plus stuff and overpowered the Kansas City Royals’ B-team.

But behind the booming bat of Mike Moustakas, the Royals clinched the AL Central title Thursday night. The Royals clinched the division with a win over the Seattle Mariners Thursday night.

With a 10-4 win over the Seattle Mariners and a loss by the Minnesota Twins, the Kansas City Royals have clinched their first ever AL Central Title and their first division title since 1985.

“It forced us to use a lot of youngsters in tough situations”, McClendon said.

Kansas City, World Series loser to the Giants in 2014, clinched the A.L. Central for its first division title in 30 years.

“I don’t know what I was doing there”, he said. “We can’t pack it in yet”. We definitely love playing in front our home crowd. “Again it’s important these guys accomplished something special”. In which case, they would have home field advantage throughout the post-season.

“Just kind of think what it’d be like to do that”, he said.

“He felt like he could manage through it and would still be trying if I didn’t say, “Look, I’m not going to use you as my closer, “‘ said Royals” manager Ned Yost. “At the end of the day that’s all that matters”.

The Mariners used seven pitchers, with Logan Kensing (1-1) taking the loss.

RANGERS 8, ATHLETICS 1: Cole Hamels pitched six innings to earn his fifth consecutive win and Prince Fielder hit his 22nd homer as visiting Texas completed a three-game sweep.

Given their September struggles, I think the Royals do have some question marks particularly with their pitching.

The 29-year old leads the Royals with 32 saves in 37 opportunities but has been erratic this season. It was Moustakas’ 21st home run and 74th RBI, both career highs. He walked Melky Cabrera and Thompson to force home a run before striking out Adam LaRoche.

Mariners: LHP James Paxton left after 33 pitches and nine batters with a broken fingernail. J.C. Ramirez replaced Paxton, who was led off the mound by the trainer.

“I’m frustrated”, Paxton said. I just have to keep on going and come out the other side. The Mariners then summoned their left-hander Joe Beimel, who gave up a double to Ben Zobrist.

Cain lined a two-RBI single to left to open a two-run lead.

The Indians are coming into this game after allowing one walk during their last outing. As a team the Royals are hitting.271 with Lorenzo Cain hitting.307, Eric Hosmer hitting.303, and Kendrys Morales hitting.292. On top of that, the team announced the Greg Holland would miss the rest of the season due to a “significant” tear in his elbow.

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