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Five key moments from the Royals' 7-2 win in World Series Game 2

Mike Oz

The Kansas City Royals erased any doubts about how they'd bounce back from their first loss of the 2014 postseason. They were just fine in Game 2 of the World Series, potent in fact.

The Royals, powered by a five-run sixth inning, beat the San Francisco Giants by the count of 7-2. Omar Infante hit a two-run homer, Salvador Perez knocked a two-run double and Billy Butler had two RBI singles. The Giants imploded in the sixth after pulling starter Jake Peavy. They used four relievers in the inning. The one people will remember is rookie Hunter Strickland, who allowed Perez's double, Infante's homer and then lost his temper, causing the Royals' bench to clear.

Here are five key moments, starting with Strickland's meltdown:

INFANTE HOMERS, TEMPER FLARE
The most talked-about play of Game 2 will certainly be Infante's two-run homer in the sixth inning that put the Royals ahead comfortably. It also led to a benches-clearing moment when Strickland lost his temper and started jawing at Perez, who scored on the homer. This wasn't so much a Giants vs. Royals thing as it was a frustrated Strickland letting his emotions show the worst of him. Perez was baffled that Strickland was so upset, but many other Royals rushed onto the field. Theatrics aside, this capped a disappointing postseason for the rookie Giants pitcher, who gave up his fifth homer in six appearances. Oof.

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(AP)
(AP)

PEREZ KNOCKS IN TWO


Round 1 of Strickland vs. Perez also went to Perez, who hit the two-run double that preceded Infante's homer. That turned a 3-2 game into a 5-2 game, and it was another instance of Perez getting a big hit when the Royals needed it. His production hasn't been the best — he's hitting .150 in the postseason — but he's certainly had his moments.

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BILLY BUTLER PUTS THE ROYALS AHEAD
The man they affectionately call Country Breakfast, started the onslaught in the sixth inning. With runners at first and second with nobody out, the Giants brought in relief pitcher Jean Machi, praying for a double play. With Machi keeping a keen eye on the Royals runners, Butler singled over the head of shortstop Brandon Crawford to bring home Lorenzo Cain from second. That made the score 3-2. It was Butler's second RBI of the night. He had an RBI single in the first inning as well.

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BRANDON BELT'S BASERUNNING BLUNDER COSTS GIANTS
The Giants had a chance to break a 2-2 tie in the fourth inning, but a poor baserunning sequence ended their rally. Brandon Belt was on second base with one out after doubling and bringing home Pablo Sandoval. Michael Morse came up next and flew out to right field. When Nori Aoki made a wild throw back to the infield, Belt thought about dashing to third. But he was caught in the middle of the bases and thrown out when he tried to get back to second. Never a good way to end an inning.

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TIM LINCECUM ENTERS FOR MOP-UP DUTY
After the disastrous-for-the-Giants sixth inning, manager Bruce Bochy finally had a reason to call on Tim Lincecum, the infinitely interesting ex-Cy Young winner. Lincecum hadn't pitched at all in the postseason, but the Giants brought him in for mop-up duty in the seventh and eighth innings (better than what he was mopping up in Game 1). Lincecum was impressive after 24 days off — he pitched a perfect inning and two-thirds, but left with an apparent injury. If Lincecum is healthy, it could bring a different dynamic to the Giants' bullpen the rest of the series.

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Mike Oz is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!