ALDS bound! Kansas City Royals sweep Baltimore Orioles, advance to face New York Yankees

The Kansas City Royals couldn’t wait to savor the moment.

As the champagne flowed and celebratory shouts erupted all around the clubhouse, the Royals took time to celebrate another accomplishment.

A sweep.

A flight to New York.

And a chance to play the Yankees in the American League Divisional Series

On Wednesday, the Royals earned a 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. KC swept the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series.

Game 1 of the ALDS begins on Saturday, Oct. 5. Fans can watch the game on TBS or stream on Max.

“Both teams have a healthy respect for each other,” Royals slugger Vinnie Pasquantino said. “We know what we are getting into and they know what they are getting into. So we are excited about and we are excited about the challenge.”

The Royals got another strong start from right-hander Seth Lugo. The nine-year veteran allowed one run in 4 ⅓ innings. He surrendered only five hits and struck out six batters.

Lugo ran into trouble in the fifth inning. Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins hit a solo home run to begin the frame. Next, Lugo loaded the bases as the Orioles had a prime opportunity to take their first lead of the series.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro made a shrewd decision. He turned to his bullpen and inserted left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa in the high-leverage spot.

Zerpa picked up two crucial outs. He struck out Orioles rookie sensation Colton Cowser and forced star catcher Adley Rutschman to ground out.

The game remained tied at 1-all. Zerpa tossed one inning and recorded two strikeouts.

“These guys, it’s so impressive that they believe in themselves and they trust their stuff and they just come after some of the best hitters in the world,” Quatraro said.

The Royals regained the lead in the sixth inning. KC superstar Bobby Witt Jr. legged out an infield single to drive home outfielder Kyle Isbel.

KC manufactured both of its runs as Vinnie Pasquantino had an RBI single earlier in the game.

“I keep saying that’s what we wanted to do, and now we’re doing it,” Witt said. “We’ve just got to take things one day at a time, one step at a time like we’ve been doing. It’s unbelievable doing it for the fans, so I can’t wait to play a game there, but first go to New York.”

With the late lead, Quatraro turned to relievers John Schreiber, Sam Long, Kris Bubic and Lucas Erceg. That quartet protected a 2-1 lead, allowing one hit and striking out three batters across the final 3 ⅔ innings.

The Orioles were eliminated at home. They scored one run in 18 innings during the Wild Card series.

Missed previous Royals coverage?

Game 1: Cole Ragans sets tone with dominant start in Royals victory

Pep Talk: How Salvador Perez steadied the Royals (& closer Lucas Erceg) in Game 1

Here are more notables from Wednesday’s game:

Royals defense shines in Game 2

Lugo got some timely help from his defense on Wednesday.

In the third inning, Royals outfielder MJ Melendez ran down a line drive on the warning track. The liner was tailing away from his defensive position, but he found a way to corral the baseball before hitting the outfield wall.

Melendez’s catch had a 5% catch probability. The line drive would’ve been a home run in 27 of 30 MLB ballparks, per Baseball Savant.

“I wasn’t afraid of the wall,” Melendez said. “Just trying to go in there and make a play for my pitcher. “Obviously, he is just pitching his butt off right there. So just try to be fearless and going in after the ball.”

An inning later, Royals second baseman Michael Massey saved a potential run from scoring. He made a diving catch to rob former Royal Ryan O’Hearn of a run-scoring single.

Massey ranged to left and snared a line drive with full extension. He gathered himself and threw a strike to first baseman Yuli Gurriel to record the second out of the inning.

“I just tried to keep the ball in front of me,” Massey said. “It was a great pitch by Seth right there to jam them up and be able to keep them in the infield and get an out.”

Lugo then retired infielder Ryan Mountcastle to end the threat. The Royals held their 1-0 advantage.

Both plays were celebrated by Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes. He shared his excitement in two tweets while watching the game.

KC Royals advance to ALDS:

The Royals are headed to the American League Divisional Series. The club will face the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:38 p.m. Central on TBS. Fans can also stream Game 1 on Max.

The Royals went 2-5 against the Yankees this season. KC lost two of three games in New York from Sept. 9-11 and the club was outscored 14-12 in the road series.

The clubs will renew their 1970s postseason rivalry. The Yankees hold a 9-8 all-time playoff series record. However, the Royals won the last postseason meeting in 1980.