Just as Johnny Cueto was the story in Game 2 and David Wright was the story in Game 3, the Royals never-say-die attitude was once again the story for Kansas City. While Michael Conforto hit two home runs for the Mets, giving them an early lead, the Royals offense came back and proved to be the difference in the game. The Royals would hold on to win 5-3 after a big three-run eighth inning set up by a pair of walks and a big error by second baseman Daniel Murphy.
Conforto led off the scoring for the Mets with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the third inning. Wilmer Flores followed with a single, giving the Mets a baserunner with nobody out. After a wild pitch by Chris Young, that advanced Flores to second, a sacrifice bunt by Steven Matz got Flores over to third. Leadoff man Curtis Granderson then hit a fly ball to right field scoring the second run for the Mets. The play was challenged, as the Royals thought that Flores had left third base early, although the call on the field was upheld.
The Royals would answer with a run of their own in the top of the fifth inning after four dominant, shutout innings thrown by Steven Matz. Salvador Perez reached on a one out double largely due to a misplace in center field by Yoenis Cespedes. Alex Gordon would follow with a single into right field, cutting the Mets lead to just one at 2-1. After a pinch hit, two out single by Kendrys Morales, Matz was able to pitch out of the jam by getting Alcides Escobar to fly out to right field.
The Mets would answer right back in the bottom of the fifth inning when Michael Conforto hit his second solo home run of the night, this time off reliever Danny Duffy, giving the Mets a two run advantage at 3-1. The Royals would answer back once again in the top of the sixth inning with a leadoff double by Ben Zobrist followed by a single by Lorenzo Cain, shortening the Mets lead to 3-2. Matz would be pulled from the game after the Cain single and lefty Jon Niese and righty Bartolo Colon would combine to get the Mets out of the jam.
After scoreless half innings by Ryan Madsen and Addison Reed, the Royals would once again threaten in the top of the 8th against Tyler Clippard. Following a groundout by Escobar to begin the inning, Clippard walked both Zobrist and Cain and was then pulled for Jeurys Familia, who came in to try to get the five out save. Eric Hosmer would hit what seemed like a routine ground ball to second base that somehow got by Daniel Murphy allowing the tying run to score. Mike Moustakas would follow with a single of his own, scoring Lorenzo Cain and giving the Royals a 4-3 lead. Salvador Perez would follow with a yet another single and yet another run, pushing the score to 5-3 for the Royals, before Daniel Murphy somewhat redeemed himself with a fantastic double play.
The Royals wouldn’t take any chances with the Mets, bringing in Wade Davis for a six out save to shut the door on Game 4. Davis ran into some trouble in the 9th, after back to back singles by Daniel Murphy and Yoenis Cespedes, but Lucas Duda would line into a double play after a bad baserunning blunder by Cespedes at first base giving Davis the save.
For the Mets, it was a heartbreaking loss that may represent the end of their 2015 playoff run. For the Royals, the win puts them just one game away from a World Series Championship for the second consecutive year. Edinson Volquez will take the hill for the Royals against Matt Harvey and the Mets in Game 5 on Sunday night, hoping to clinch the Royals first World Series title in 30 years.
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