KANSAS CITY -- As
On Alex Gordon Day at The K, when the organization honored his retirement, it was fitting that Kansas City won its fourth consecutive game.
• Beloved Royal Gordon 'embodies the city'
“I guess we \\[have\\] to win on Gordo night,” said reliever
“Some people were talking in the dugout, ‘It’s Gordon night. We need to keep going,’” Perez said. “I think we made his night special after the win. To catch him one more time, one more throw from left field, I’ll never forget it. He’s one of the best human beings I’ve ever met in my life.\n\n“That was a special night for everybody tonight in Kansas City.”
Davis came in for just his third save opportunity this year after the veteran reliever has struggled throughout the season. But with
“Getting in those situations is fun,” Davis said. “It’s more fun when you’re doing well, but any time you feel the adrenaline in a one-run game, you've got runners on, you get a little extra electric spark, and you just have a lot more fun getting out there and getting the job done.”\n\nThe Royals were staring down a six-run deficit heading into the bottom of the fifth after starter
“I can’t think of another team I’ve been around that’s as resilient as this group,” Matheny said. “We’re down, 5-0, and making a pitching change, and they’re on the mound talking about how we’re going to figure out how to get back in this game. That kind of stuff is some of the most fun in this game; watching guys face odds and figuring out ways to do things that people don’t expect.”\n\nIn the bottom of the fifth,
“Mize is good,” Perez said of the young Detroit starter, who held Kansas City scoreless through four innings. “I don’t think he wants to leave a fastball in the middle of the plate against me, though. He’s going to be one of the best pitchers in the American League. But sometimes they’re going to make mistakes, and they’re going to pay. I just tried to hit the ball hard.”\n\nSuddenly, momentum was on the Royals’ side. The bullpen kept the Tigers at bay long enough to allow the offense to take the lead and tack on in the seventh because of Hanser Alberto’s crucial pinch-hit, two-run triple.
It was the Royals’ largest deficit overcome in a win since June 6, 2017, when they beat Houston, 9-7, after trailing 7-1.\n\n“The dugout was fired up,” reliever