Royals take early 2-1 lead in Game 2 of WS
By HOWIE RUMBERG, Associated Press
Oct 22, 2014 8:11 PM CDT
A fan watches batting practice before Game 2 of baseball's World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)   (Associated Press)

Royals flash the defense that drove the Angels and Orioles batty during the playoffs. Alcides Escobar ended the third with a sleek play at shortstop. First baseman Eric Hosmer stopped a scorcher from Brandon Crawford for the first out of the inning.

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Alcides Escobar gives Royals their first lead of the Series, pulling a first-pitch fastball into the right-field corner for a double to drive in Omar Infante. Another two-out RBI for the Royals.

Jake Peavy still shouting at himself as he stomps off the mound with the Giants trailing 2-1.

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San Francisco starter Jake Peavy yelling at himself after bouncing a pitch to Omar Infante with one-out in the second. Infante drives next pitch — letter high — to the left-field wall for a double.

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Billy Butler gets the Royals even in the first inning with a two-out RBI single off Jake Peavy, ending the team's 0-for-17 skid with runners in scoring position.

Numbers don't lie: Butler came in 14 for 33 with three homers against the Giants' righty.

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Royals are off and running in the bottom of the first.

Alcides Escobar led off with a sharp single to shortstop. With one out and ALCS MVP Lorenzo Cain batting, Escobar took off. But catcher Buster Posey makes a strong throw and rookie second baseman Joe Panik handles the one-hopper neatly and applies the tag.

KC manager Ned Yost gave the "hang-on-a-second" sign to Cain as he waited for word from his replay room. No go. Second base umpire Ted Barrett got it right. Still no reviews in the Fall Classic.

Cain then doubled to get the Royal-blue crowd revved up.

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Boom. The Giants strike first again. Leadoff batter Gregor Blanco takes Yordano Ventura's eighth pitch (98 mph) over the right-field wall for the quick lead. It was the 19th leadoff homer in World Series history.

The Giants, by the way, are 5-0 when scoring first this postseason.

Ventura settles down to retire the next three batters, reaching 100 mph on his first pitch to Buster Posey.

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Two pretty popular Royals combine on the ceremonial first pitch: Hall of Famer George Brett tosses to John Wathan, who had one at-bat in the 1985 World Series win.

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Another nice fall night in Kansas City for Game 2. There's some wind tonight — these fans dressed head-to-toe in blue are hoping this World Series doesn't become a blowout.

No lineup changes from the opener. The Royals are looking to alter their luck against Jake Peavy. He's hittable, unlike the pitcher who has emerged as the best October ace in baseball, Game 1 winner Madison Bumgarner.

The Royals give the ball to flame-throwing 23-year-old Yordano Ventura. Amped up? Let's see if the rookie hits 100 mph on the radar in the first inning.

It's about 10 minutes before the first pitch, a few Giants are already hanging over the dugout rail, taking in the scene. Seems like those guys in orange and black are here pretty often, doesn't it?

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