Volquez puts on a show as Royals beat Blue Jays 5-0
Volquez puts on a show as Royals beat Blue Jays 5-0
Edinson Volquez planned to pitch the Toronto Blue Jays inside in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, just as he did during their contentious series earlier this season.
[...] after chatting with Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez, he changed his mind.
“We know they got a lot of pull hitters over there, and power hitters, and he told me, ‘How you feel pitching down and away?’ And I said, ‘I feel sexy tonight,’” Volquez recalled.
Volquez combined with three relievers on a three-hitter, Perez hit a soaring home run off Toronto starter Marco Estrada, and Kansas City rolled to a 5-0 victory Friday to open the best-of-seven series.
Volquez ramped up his fastball to 97 mph to slice through a potent Blue Jays offense, never allowing a runner past second base over six innings.
The Royals’ bullpen finished off the club’s eighth consecutive ALCS victory.
“There was a lot of energy,” said Volquez, who had been 0-3 with an 8.76 ERA in three career postseason starts.
The Royals will try to take a 2-0 series lead when they send Yordano Ventura to the mound Saturday.
“Hopefully things change to our favor tomorrow,” Blue Jays catcher Dioner Navararo said.
American League Championship Series
Royals lead series 1-0