Royals Go Up 2-1 in World Series

All season long and deep into October, the Kansas City Royals have relied on their winning formula of fundamental baseball: sparkling defense, a dominant bullpen and just enough timely hitting. It won them a wild card and the American League pennant. And now, it has manager Ned Yost and his team on top in the World Series. Jeremy Guthrie outpitched fellow Series newcomer Tim Hudson, four Royals relievers combined on four hitless innings, and Kansas City beat the San Francisco Giants 3-2 last night for a 2-1 lead in the Fall Classic.

Alex Gordon hit a run-scoring double and Lorenzo Cain made two slick grabs in right field as the Royals backed Guthrie with nifty glove work. All night long, Kansas City looked perfectly comfortable playing in the tricky territory at unfamiliar AT&T Park. Eric Hosmer had a sixth-inning RBI single on the 11th pitch of his at-bat against lefty Javier Lopez. It was the first World Series hit for Hosmer—on his 25th birthday. Game 4 is tonight, with right-hander Ryan Vogelsong scheduled to pitch for the Giants against lefty Jason Vargas. (More Kansas City Royals stories.)