Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) – Kendrys Morales hit a tiebreaking two-
run double in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Kansas City Royals
to a 4-2 win over the Oakland Athletics in the rubber match of a heated three-
game series.
The animosity between the teams stemmed from Oakland’s Brett Lawrie sliding
hard into Alcides Escobar at second base in Friday’s opener, which left
Escobar with a knee injury.
It appeared the score was settled when Royals hurler Yordano Ventura plunked
Lawrie on Saturday.
However, tempers flared again Sunday, with hard-throwing Kelvin Herrera
whizzing a 100-mph pitch behind Lawrie in the top of the eighth. Herrera was
immediately ejected by home plate umpire Greg Gibson.
Royals bench coach Dan Wakamatsu was also ejected.
Oakland starter Scott Kazmir had hit Lorenzo Cain in the first inning, leading
to warnings being issued.
Royals manager Ned Yost came out to argue and was banished by Gibson, along
with pitching coach Dave Eiland.
Cain got his revenge in the eighth by tying the game at 2-2 with an RBI
double.
