FALL BALL RETURNS TO KC--Tonight marks a return to postseason play for the Royals for the first time since George Brett and Bret Saberhagen embraced on the artificial turf of then Royals Stadium on October 27, 1985...Kansas City snapped the dry spell with an 89-73 season, capped on Sunday afternoon with a 6-4 win over the White Sox in Chicago to finish one game behind the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central...the rollercoaster ride that was the 2014 season saw the Royals trail by as many as 6 1/2 games after play on June 1, only to reel off a 13-2 stretch to take a 1 1/2-game advantage in the Central on June 18...KC then fell into a 9-18 skid from June 19-July 21 to fall to eight games behind the Tigers, but a win in Chicago on July 22 jumpstarted a season-ending stretch in which the Royals were 41-23 and popped champagne corks for the first time in 29 years last Friday night with a win over the White Sox in U.S. Cellular Field...the 41 victories since July 22 were the second most in the Majors, trailing only the Orioles and Nationals, who recorded 42 each...the 89-victory season marked the most by the Kansas City franchise since winning 92 times in 1989...KC has coupled its last two seasons for a 175-149 mark for a .540 winning pct.

TONIGHT’S 25-MAN ROSTER--The Royals have elected to go with nine pitchers for tonight’s game, since rosters can be reset prior to each leg of the postseason...tonight’s active roster consists of: PITCHERS

(9): Wade Davis, Danny Duffy (L), Brandon Finnegan (L), Jason Frasor, Jeremy Guthrie, Kelvin Herrera, Greg Holland, James Shields, Yordano Ventura. CATCHERS (2): Erik Kratz, Salvador Perez. INFIELDERS (7): Billy Butler, Christian Colon, Alcides Escobar, Eric Hosmer, Omar Infante, Mike Moustakas, Jayson Nix. OUTFIELDERS (7): Nori Aoki, Lorenzo Cain, Jarrod Dyson, Alex Gordon, Terrance Gore, Raul Ibanez, Josh Willingham.

VENEZUELAN CONNECTION BREAK MARKS--A pair of Venezuela natives have established records for games played at their respective positions with their workload in 2014...Alcides Escobar started all 162 games at shortstop, which are two more than the previous team record for a Kansas City shortstop held by Greg Gagne (1993) and Angel Berroa (2005)...Esky was the only shortstop in the Majors to play in all 162 games this year and the first to do so in either league since Starlin Castro in 2012 with the Cubs...catcher Salvador Perez broke the team record for games caught by a Kansas City catcher with 146 this year, eclipsing Darrell Porter’s mark from 1978 by one game...Salvy is the first catcher to play at least 146 games behind the plate in a single season since 2008 when both Jason Kendall (Milwaukee) and Russell Martin (L.A. Dodgers) caught 149.

ROAD WARRIORS--The Royals have saved their best work for the road this year going 47-34 away from ‘The K’, five wins better than Kansas City totaled at home this year (42-39)...the road season turned around in Chicago, as KC entered play on July 22 in Chicago with a 26-25 record away from ‘The K’, but then reeled off a 21-9 record in road tilts, matching the Angels for the most road wins since that date...Kansas City was 8-1-1 in its last 10 road series played, winning sets at Chicago (twice), Oakland, Arizona, Minnesota, Texas, New York and Cleveland, while going 1-1 in Colorado and losing two of three in Detroit...the 47 road wins were the third most in franchise history and one win behind the ‘77 club for second highest success rate away from home.

HOLLY BACK IN FORM--Greg Holland finished the year with 46 saves, good for second in the A.L. in saves and is the first Royal to record back-to-back 40-save seasons for Kansas City since Dan Quisenberry did it in 1983 (45) and ‘84 (44)...Holly has made good of 46 of his 48 tries this year, including 39 of the last 40 and 20 in a row...over a longer haul, Holland has converted 86 of his last 89 attempts (96.6%) since May 30 of last season, the highest percentage among closers with at least 40 opportunities in that span...since that date, Greg has five more saves than any other pitcher in baseball (Craig Kimbrel - 81) and Holland has allowed just 14 earned runs in 113.1 innings for a 1.11 ERA...he recorded his 100th career save on August 8 and since posting his first career save on August 3, 2011 vs. Baltimore, Holland has gone 113-for-123, the best save pct. at 91.9 among closers with at least 100 save opportunities.

NED LONGEST TENURED KC SKIPPER--Ned Yost has been at the helm for 775 games as the Kansas City manager, surpassing Royals’ Hall of Famer skipper Dick Howser (770) for the most games managed in franchise history, and becoming the first manager since Howser to lead the Royals to the postseason...Yost has a 373-402 ledger as KC’s manager, including a 175-149 (.540) mark in the last two seasons...coupled with 457 wins in Milwaukee, Yost is tied for 73rd on the all-time managerial win list with 830 over his 11-year career, matching Fred Hutchinson’s total in a 12-year career as a skipper of the Tigers, Cardinals and Reds.

SHORT GAME PAID OFF--The Royals finished the year second in the American League in infield hits with 158...Kansas City featured four in the Top 14 individually in infield knocks with Lorenzo Cain tied for third (28), Nori Aoki tied for sixth (27), Alcides Escobar tied for 12th (24) and Jarrod Dyson tied for 14th (22).

Kansas City Royals • One Royal Way • Kansas City, MO 64129-6969 • www.royals.com • ©Kansas City Royals 2014

Kansas City RoyalsOFFICIAL GAME NOTES

Oakland Athletics @ Kansas City RoyalsKauffman Stadium - Tuesday, September 30, 2014

American League Wild Card GameTBS, KCSP Radio (610 Sports) & ESPN Radio

POSSIBLE UPCOMING SCHEDULEThursday, October 2: Possible ALDS Game 1 @ Anaheim Stadium, Time TBA, TBS, ESPN Radio & 610 Sports

Tonight’s game is being broadcast on KCSP Radio (610 Sports) and the Royals Radio Network with Royals’ Hall of Famer Denny Matthews, Ryan Lefebvre, Steve Physioc and Steve Stewart, while Don Free controls the dials as the producer/engineer...tonight’s game is being televised nationally on TBS with Ernie Johnson Jr.,

Cal Ripken Jr., Ron Darling and Matt Winer...tonight is also being broadcast nationally on ESPN Radio with Jon “Boog” Sciambi and Chris Singleton.

Royals vs. A’s (Regular Season)

The Royals won the season series from the Athletics this year, going 5-2 on the year, including a 3-1 mark here in Kauffman Stadium...this is the second time that Kansas City has faced the A’s in postseason play, the other occurring in 1981 when Oakland won the battle of the two half season champs in the then A.L. West after the year was interrupted by a work stoppage...below are the results from this summer:Date Site Score WP LP Att.8/1 @ Oak W, 1-0 Guthrie Gray 35,0678/2 @ Oak L, 3-8 Lester Vargas 30,0978/3 @ Oak W, 4-2 Shields Kazmir 22,6128/11 KC W, 3-2 Herrera Gray 21,4798/12 KC L, 3-11 Lester Guthrie 27,1618/13 KC W, 3-0 Vargas (C) Kazmir 21,0998/14 KC W, 7-3 Crow Samardzija 20,569

TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Jon Lester (16-11, 2.46) vs. RHP James Shields (14-8, 3.21) 2014 2013 Career 2014 2013 CareerJon Lester vs. Royals 3-0 0-1 9-3 Major League Record 16-11 (2.46 ERA) 15-8 116-67James Shields vs. A’s 1-0 0-1 6-4 Major League Record 14-8 (3.21 ERA) 13-9 114-90

JAMES SHIELDS is making his seventh career postseason start after finishing the regular season at 14-8, his eighth straight year with double-digit wins...he has 15 career appearances vs. Oakland, including two this year...the right-hander was acquired as the centerpiece of a 7-player deal from Tampa Bay on December 9, 2012. NOTHING DECIDED IN CHICAGO--James tossed 6.0 innings last Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Field, but was not around when the Royals rallied for their 6-3 come-from-behind victory...Shields allowed 3 runs on 5 hits with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts over his 6.0 innings of work, firing 112 pitches...he allowed a 2-run homer to Josh Phegley in the second inning, while back-to-back hits by Moises Sierra and Jordan Danks produced the White Sox third run...however, after Danks’ RBI hit, James retired 9 of the final 10 hitters he faced, allowing the Royals to tie the game in the sixth...Shields recorded his 24th quality start of the season and tossed at least 6.0 frames for the 13th consecutive start. VS. OAKLAND--Shields is 6-4 with a 3.82 ERA over 15 regular season outings against the Athletics, including 1-0 in 2 starts this year...he won the rubber game at Oakland on August 3, going 8.0 innings in a 4-2 win over former Rays teammate Scott Kazmir...James retired the first 15 batters before Josh Reddick broke up his shot at the record books with a homer to lead off the sixth...Reddick hit a second solo shot in the eighth, as Shields finished the day allowing 2 runs and 4 hits and no walks with 2 strikeouts...James faced the A’s here 11 days later, taking a no decision after working 6.0 innings in a 7-3 win...he was charged with 3 runs, 7 hits and a walk, striking out 5 over 6.0 innings, with the Royals rallying for 5 runs in the seventh. IN THE POSTSEASON--James is making his seventh career start in the playoffs, having worked for Tampa Bay in 2008, 2010 and 2011...he started the first postseason game in Rays history on October 2, 2008, winning Game 1 of the ALDS over Chicago (6.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER)...Shields tossed 5.2 shutout innings in Game 2 of the 2008 World Series against Philadelphia, notching the only Rays win to date in the Fall Classic...he’s 2-4 overall, posting a 4.98 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 34.1 innings (19 ER)...Shields is the 12th pitcher to start at least once for KC in the postseason. WORKHORSE--“Big Game” James made 34 starts for a second straight year, tying for the big league lead...he finished fourth in the A.L. with 227.0 innings, topping the 200.0 mark for an eight consecutive season, which ties Justin Verlander for the second-longest active streak in the Majors, behind only Mark Buehrle

(14-straight seasons)...Shields leads the Majors with 1785.2 innings since the start of 2007, just ahead of Felix Hernandez (1785.1) and Verlander (1780.2). AT HOME--The A.L. leader with 10 road wins, James made just 15 of 34 starts here, going 4-6 with a 3.51 ERA (40 ER in 102.2 IP)...he recorded 11 quality starts at “The K”, including his ninth career shutout on August 9 vs. San Francisco...Shields received 3.16 runs of support per 9.0 innings here, compared to 5.43 on the road.

James’ Last Win:September 10 @ Detroit (7.0 IP, 3-0 over Rick Porcello)

James’ Last Loss:September 20 vs. Detroit (6.2 IP, 1-3 to Max Scherzer)

James’ Strikeout High:15, October 2, 2012 vs. Baltimore (9.0 IP, 1-0 loss to Miguel Gonzalez)

James’ Last Complete Game & Shutout:August 9 vs. San Francisco (9.0 IP, 5-0 over Tim Hudson) - 22nd career CG & 9th shutout

Shields vs. AthleticsPlayer AVG. AB H HR RBIAlberto Callaspo .250 24 6 0 2Coco Crisp .125 24 3 0 0Josh Donaldson .222 9 2 1 1Adam Dunn .200 35 7 1 5Sam Fuld .200 10 2 0 0Jonny Gomes .500 2 1 0 0Jed Lowrie .188 16 3 0 0Brandon Moss .214 14 3 0 0Derek Norris .000 5 0 0 0Nick Punto .286 14 4 0 0Josh Reddick .318 22 7 3 5Eric Sogard .000 5 0 0 0Geovany Soto .111 9 1 0 0Stephen Vogt .333 6 2 0 0

Royals Notes - Oakland A’s @ Kansas City Royals - Tuesday, September 30, 2014Pitching Notes

Wade Davis1st Batter Efficiency: 53/71 Saves/Save Opp: 3/7 (43%) Last Save: Sept. 10 @ Det (3rd career) Last Outing: IP H R ER BB SO Inherited Runners/Runners Scored: 12/5 2014 Strikeout High: 4 on 5/6 @ San Diego September 26 @ Chicago 1.0 2 1 1 0 3 =Wade allowed a run Friday night at Chicago, after four consecutive scoreless outings...he gave up a one-out triple to Adam Eaton and an RBI single to Alexei Ramirez, before fanning Jose Abreu and Conor Gillaspie to end the inning...he recorded 3 strikeouts in his 1.0 inning of work, the eighth time he’s done that this year. =Wade’s 109 strikeouts set a Royals single-season relief record, ahead of Jim York (1971) and Greg Holland (2013), who had 103 apiece. =Davis compiled a season ERA of 1.00 (8 ER in 72.0 IP), setting a new single-season record for a Royals reliever. =Wade posted a 31.2 inning scoreless streak from June 27 to September 15, the longest stretch by a reliever in team history.

Danny Duffy (L)1st Batter Efficiency: 2/6 Saves/Save Opp: 0/0 (0%) Last Save: None Last Outing: IP H R ER BB SO Inherited Runners/Runners Scored: 1/0 2014 Strikeout High: 9 on 6/14 @ CWS Sept. 27 @ Chicago (L) 2.0+1 5 4 4 1 0 =Danny made his 25th start of the year on Saturday at Chicago, allowing 4 runs over just 2.0 innings plus a batter...he took the loss in a 5-4 final. =Duffy opened the season at Triple-A Omaha...with his first 6 appearances coming out in relief...he was 1-1 with a 2.16 ERA, holding batters to a .167 average.

Brandon Finnegan (L)1st Batter Efficiency: 6/7 Saves/Save Opp: 0/0 (0%) Last Save: None Last Outing: IP H R ER BB SO Inherited Runners/Runners Scored: 1/1 2014 Strikeout High: 2 (2x, last 9/13 vs. Bos) September 27 @ Chicago 0.2 1 0 0 1 1 =Brandon tossed 0.2 innings on Saturday at Chicago...he retired Carlos Sanchez on a line out and fanned Alexei Ramirez, but gave up a one-out single to Adam Eaton and walked Jose Abreu with two down before departing...he suffered his first big league loss on Wednesday in Cleveland, surrendering 2 runs in the sixth. =He’s in the Majors after just 13 minor league outings...he posted a 0.60 ERA over 15.0 innings at Wilmington (A), then a 2.25 ERA in 12.0 Double-A innings. = The 17th overall pick in June, Brandon became the first 2014 draftee to make the Majors...he was 9-3 with a 2.04 ERA and 134 strikeouts this year at TCU.

Jason Frasor1st Batter Efficiency: 45/61 Saves/Save Opp: 0/2 (0%) Last Save: Sep. 26, 2010 (36th career) Last Outing: IP H R ER BB SO Inherited Runners/Runners Scored: 41/13 2014 Strikeout High: 3 on 9/12 vs. Boston September 27 @ Chicago 1.1 0 0 0 0 1 = Jason pitched out of a first-and-second with two outs jam in the fifth inning on Saturday at Chicago, getting Avisail Garcia to ground out and then worked a 1-2-3 sixth...he's made five-straight scoreless appearances (5.0 innings), dating back to September 8 at Detroit. = Jason is looking to make his first postseason appearance...he debuted for Toronto in 2004 and has 10 years, 134 days of MLB service time.

Jeremy Guthrie1st Batter Efficiency: -/- Saves/Save Opp: -/- Last Save: None Last Outing: IP H R ER BB SO Inherited Runners/Runners Scored: -/- 2014 Strikeout High: 9 (2x, last 6/18 @ Det) Sept. 26 @ Chicago (Win) 7.0 4 0 0 1 6 = Jeremy earned the win in KC’s postseason clincher on Friday at Chicago, tossing 7.0 shutout innings in the 3-1 final. = Jeremy is looking to make his postseason debut...the 35-year old has pitched in relief 27 times, last with Colorado in 2012.

Kelvin Herrera1st Batter Efficiency: 51/70 Saves/Save Opp: 0/1 (0%) Last Save: Apr. 10, 2013 vs. Min (5th car.) Last Outing: IP H R ER BB SO Inherited Runners/Runners Scored: 41/9 2014 Strikeout High: 3 on 6/27 vs. LAA September 27 @ Chicago 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 =Kelvin pitched the eighth inning on Saturday at Chicago...after allowing a leadoff walk to Jose Abreu, he enduced a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Avisail Garcia and fanned Andy Wilkins to keep the Royals within two...he also earned his fourth victory of the year on Thursday at “The Cell”, pitching a scoreless seventh. =Herrera’s scoreless streak ended at 31.0 IP on September 16 with his first runs allowed since June 24...it is the second-longest by a reliever in franchise history. =Kelvin has not allowed a homer since July 26, 2013...his 95.0 inning streak is the longest by a reliever in Royals history.

Greg Holland1st Batter Efficiency: 49/65 Saves/Save Opp: 46/48 (96%) Last Save: Sep. 26 @ CWS (113th career) Last Outing: IP H R ER BB SO Inherited Runners/Runners Scored: 5/1 2014 Strikeout High: 3 (6x, last 9/12 vs. Bos) Sept. 26 @ Chicago (Save) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 =Greg earned his 46th save, recording the final 3 outs in Friday night’s 3-1 win at Chicago, retiring Paul Konerko, Jordan Danks and Michael Taylor in order...his 46 saves ranked second in team history as he set the KC standard with 47 last season...he finished second among A.L. pitchers behind Seattle’s Fernando Rodney (48). =His strikeout of Danks on Friday gave him 381 career strikeouts, which is second among Royals relivers all-time...Jeff Montgomery is first with 720. =Holland’s 93 saves over the last two seasons are second-most in the Majors, behind only Atlanta’s Craig Kimbrel (97)...he’s converted 93-of-98 save opportunities in that period, with his 94.9 percentage leading the the Major Leagues, just ahead of the Angels’ Huston Street (93.7) and Miami’s Steve Cishek (92.4). =Greg has allowed just 2 baserunners (both walks) in his last 8 outings, recording 14 strikeouts in 8.0 innings.

Yordano Ventura1st Batter Efficiency: 1/1 Saves/Save Opp: 0/0 (0%) Last Save: None Last Outing: IP H R ER BB SO Inherited Runners/Runners Scored: 1/0 2014 Strikeout High: 10 on 5/5 @ San Diego September 28 @ Chicago 4.0 8 4 4 1 6 =Yordano started KC’s final regular season game on Sunday at Chicago, allowing a 2-run homer to Marcus Semien in the third and 2 more runs in the fourth...he exited after 4.0 innings, allowing the 4 runs, 8 hits and a walk with 6 strikeouts over 73 pitches. =Ventura earned the win in his lone career relief appearance on July 13 vs. Detroit, striking out 3 over 1.2 innings, with KC rallying for a 5-2 triumph.

2014 Pitching Lines G W-L SV SVO ERA IP H R ER HR BB SO OPP AVG Starters 162 61-55 - - 3.60 986.2 980 436 395 96 270 722 .257 Relievers 159 28-18 53 65 3.30 464.0 406 188 170 32 170 446 .235 Totals 162 89-73 53 65 3.51 1450.2 1386 624 565 128 440 1168 .250Bullpen Totals: 1st Batter Efficiency: 314/445 (71%) Saves/Save Opp: 53/65 (82%) Inherited Runners/Runners Scored: 174/52 (30%)

This & That89-WIN YEAR--The Royals recorded 89 victories, the most for the franchise since going 92-70 in 1989...with 86 wins last year and 89 this season, Kansas City has eclipsed the 86-win mark in consecutive years for the first time since 1977 (102) and 1978 (92)...the last two full seasons KC had a winning mark was 1988-89, when the Royals went 84-77 and 92-70, respectively.

KEEPING IT IN THE YARD--The bullpen duo of Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera combined for 140.0 homerless innings during the 2014 campaign...Davis has tossed 72.0 frames and allowed only five extra-base hits (four doubles and a triple), while Herrera has fired 68.0 innings and given up 12 extra-base knocks (all doubles)...Davis, Herrera and the Dodgers’ Brandon League were the only three pitchers in the Majors who have worked at least 60.0 innings with no home runs surrendered.

DAVIS SETS STRIKEOUT MARK--The breakout bullpen year of Wade Davis ended with 109 strikeouts, shattering the team record for a reliever held by fellow bullpen-mate Greg Holland, set last year, and Jim York, a reliever for KC in 1971...Davis attained his 109 K’s in 72.0 innings for a 13.6 strikeout to 9-inning ratio, the third best mark in the A.L. (minimum 60.0 innings).

ESKY LOVING LEADOFF--Alcides Escobar was moved to the top of the batting order on September 13 and responded by hitting .375 (24-for-64) from the leadoff position in the last 15 games, with four doubles, a home run and eight runs scored...he also hit safely in his last nine contests at a .415 clip (17-for-41)...he finished with a career best 34 doubles, the second most by a Kansas City shortstop in team history, trailing only Kurt Stillwell’s 35 in 1990.

OFFENSE DOUBLES DOWN--Kansas City had nine players with at least 20 doubles this season, tying a club record...the group of Eric Hosmer (35), Alcides Escobar and Alex Gordon (34 each), Billy Butler (32), Lorenzo Cain (29), Salvador Perez (28), Nori Aoki (22), Omar Infante (21) and Mike Moustakas (20) are the fourth nine-some to hit the 20-double mark joining the 1977, ‘78 and 2008 squads.

RUNNIN’ ROYALS--For the second straight year, Kansas City led the Majors in stolen bases with 153 both this year and last season...Jarrod Dyson, despite being a part-time player, has swiped 30, 34 and now 36 in his last three seasons, totaling 100 bags in that span which is seventh among all big league thieves, most of whom play every day...KC was the only big league club with three players with at least 25 thefts, as Dyson is joined by Alcides Escobar (31) and Lorenzo Cain (28), marking the first time for the franchise since U.L. Washington, Willie Wilson and John Wathan each swiped at least 25 bags in 1983.

FEW KC CHALLENGES OF LATE--Manager Ned Yost finished the first year of instant replay in the regular season making good on 22 of his 35 requests for a 63% success rate...he requested only three reviews in the last 33 games of the season...on the flip side, KC’s opponents went 18-for-43 (42%) in replay challenges...there were 1,275 reviews during this initial campaign of replay, 310 were confirmed, 352 stood and 603 were overturned...the overall overturned figure was 47.3%, while Kansas City finished well above that at 63%...there were 1,051 manager challenges and 224 Crew Chief Reviews.

Hitting NotesRoyals Notes - Oakland A’s @ Kansas City Royals - Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Nori Aoki (L) = Nori got off to a slow start, but finished strong in his first season with the Royals...hit .285 with 22 doubles, six triples, a homer and 63 runs scored...finished the regular season with nine-game hitting streak, his longest of the year... = Batted .379 (33-for-87) over the month of September, third-highest in the American League...his .432 OBP over the final month also ranked fourth in the A.L...his September batting average was his highest in a month since coming over from Japan prior to the 2012 season. = Hit .317 (69-for-218) after the All-Star break, after batting just .260 before the break...collected 29 RBI after the break, hitting .412 (21-for-51) with runners in scoring position during the ‘second half’ of the season. = Ranked fifth in the Major Leagues (third in the A.L.) with a .363 batting average (45-for-124) against left-handed pitching...it was also the highest average in baseball vs. lefties by a left-handed hitter...ranked sixth in the A.L. with 27 infield hits, while his 101 infield hits in his MLB career are most in the Majors since 2012.

Billy Butler = Billy had an up-and-down year, hitting .271 with 32 doubles, nine homers and 66 RBI...his average and home runs were both career lows. = Finished the year swinging a hot bat, going 12-for-30 (.400) with three doubles and seven RBI during KC’s final eight games, helping the Royals to a 6-2 record. = His hot hitting corresponded with hot streaks by the Royals...he hit .389 (14-for-36) with 4 doubles, a homer and 10 RBI during KC’s 10-game winning streak (June 7-18), while he hit .333 (24-for-72) with 6 doubles, 4 homers and 14 RBI during the Royals’ 16-4 stretch, July 24-August 14. =Moved into seventh on KC’s all-time list in homers (127), moving past Danny Tartabull (124) with his roundtripper on August 8 vs. San Francisco...Billy’s .295 career batting average is third-highest in team history among players with at least 2,000 at bats...he trails only George Brett (.305) and Mike Sweeney (.299).

Lorenzo Cain = Lorenzo enjoyed a breakout year in his fourth season with the Royals...set career highs in games played (133), runs (55), hits (142), doubles (29), triples (4), RBI (53) and stolen bases (28)...his 28 steals were good for eighth in the league...he swiped 21 bags after July 1, which was tied for fifth-most in MLB in that span. =Matched a career-best with a nine-game hitting streak, September 19-27, also his longest of the season...batted .375 (12-for-32) with 2 doubles and 5 runs scored during the streak.... Collected a career-high 27 infield hits, which tied for third in the American League with Baltimore’s Adam Jones and Chicago’s Adam Eaton. = Hit .359 (28-for-78) with runners in scoring position over the ‘first half’ of the season, which ranked seventh in the American League. = Batted over .342 in both April (13-for-38) and May (26-for-76), marking the first time in his career he’s hit over .300 in consecutive months...he also batted .305 (25-for-82) in August and .315 (28-for-89) in September...collected a career-high 8 outfield assists, which tied for 11th in the A.L. = His .949 zone rating was the third-highest among qualifying MLB outfielders, behind only Oakland’s Josh Reddick (.953) and teammate Jarrod Dyson (.953).

Christian Colon = Christian made his Major League debut on July 2 and had three seperate stints with the Royals...he also played in 86 games at Triple-A Omaha. = Collected three hits twice with Kansas City, including on July 4 at Cleveland...with two doubles and a triple in that game, he became the second Royal to record 3 extra-base hits in their first Major League start, joining Mark Quinn who hit two homers and doubled vs. the Angels on September 14, 1999. = He also recorded three hits, a run scored and his first steal on August 14 vs. Oakland...missed most of September after fracturing the tip of his middle finger September 2 vs. Texas.

Jarrod Dyson (L) = Jarrod got off to a fast start and had a hot month of August, but struggled down the stretch...set a career-high 36 stolen bases. = His 36 steals tied for third in the American League with Detroit’s Rajai Davis...his total was the most by a Royals player since Carlos Beltran swiped 41 bags during the 2003 season...tied U.L. Washington for ninth in club history with his 120th career theft on September 22 during the completion of a suspended game. = Tied for the American League lead in zone rating (.953), matching Oakland’s Josh Reddick.

Alcides Escobar = Alcides was the only Royals player and one of just four in the Major Leagues to appear in all 162 games this season, along with Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman, Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria and San Francisco’s Hunter Pence...he’s played in 633 games over the past four seasons, tops among MLB shortstops and fifth overall. = Had a bounce-back season, batting .285 with 34 doubles, five triples and three homers, after hitting just .234 with 28 extra-base hits (20 doubles, 4 triples, 4 homers) in 2013...ended the season on a nine-game hitting streak, batting .425 (17-for-40) with three doubles and three RBI during the streak. =Hit out of the leadoff spot the last two weeks of the season, batting .362 (25-for-69) with five doubles, a homer, nine runs scored and a .397 on-base percentage. =Hit .313 against left-handed pitching (46-for-147), which included a .333 average (19-for-57) vs. lefties after August 1.

Alex Gordon (L) =Alex had another All-Star season, leading the club in homers (19), RBI (74) and tying for the second in doubles (34). = Selected to his second-straight All-Star game...did not participate due to injury...became the first KC outfielder named to consecutive All-Star teams since Willie Wilson in 1982 and 1983...slugged nine home runs during the month of August, second-most in the Major Leagues behind only Houston’s Chris Carter (12). = Ranked sixth in the American League, hitting .338 (44-for-130) with runners in scoring position...his 74 RBI were also ninth-most among A.L. outfielders. =His RBI came at clutch times, as he tied for sixth in the league with 14 game-winning RBI, while he also tied with Seattle’s Robinson Cano for 14th in the A.L. with 22 go-ahead RBI...13 of his 19 home runs either tied the game or gave Kansas City the lead.=His 34 doubles tied for 16th in the American League...since the start of 2011, his 157 doubles are fourth in the Majors, behind only Robinson Cano (172), Miguel Cabrera (166) and Adrian Gonzalez (165)...he has 61 outfield assists since becoming a full-time outfielder in 2011, which are 16 more than any other player in the Majors.

Terrance Gore = Terrance made his Major League debut on September 2 vs. Texas and went on to appear in 11 games, including nine as a pinch runner. =He scored five runs and recorded five stolen bases, despite making just two plate appearances during September...he ranks second in Major League history with the most runs scored and two plate appearances or fewer, behind former Oakland designated runner, Herb Washington (33 runs scored, 0 plate appearances). = Scored the winning run in the ninth inning of KC’s 4-3 walk-off victory over the White Sox on September 15...scored from second base on an infield single.

Eric Hosmer (L) =Hit .270 (136-for-503) with a career-high 35 doubles, a triple, nine homers and 58 RBI...ranked fourth in the American League, hitting .318 (83-for-261) on the road, while he batted just .219 (53-for-242) at ‘The K’...also hit .314 (70-for-223) with runners on base, compared to a .236 average with nobody on. = Batted .321 (53-for-165) with 14 doubles, a triple, five homers and 23 RBI after July 1...his .509 slugging percentage in that span ranked 11th in the American League...his 35 doubles were tied for 10th in the American League, while he’s tied for 12th in the league with 69 doubles over the last two seasons. = Had a career-best 16-game hitting streak from June 30-July 20, where he batted .413 (26-for-63) with six doubles, two homers and nine RBI...his streak was the longest by a Royal since Salvador Perez hit safely in 17-straight games in 2012... Suffered a fracture in his right hand and missed 29 games, placed on the disabled list August 2.

Raul Ibanez (L) = Raul opened the season with the Los Angeles Angels, but was granted his unconditional release on June 21...signed by the Royals June 30, playing in 33 games with KC...homered off Sonny Gray on August 1, providing the only run in a 1-0 KC triumph...he became the oldest Royal to homer with that swing at 42 years, 61 days old. = He’s one of just three Royals position players (Omar Infante, Jayson Nix) with postseason experience...he’s a career .245 hitter in the postseason with nine doubles, six homers and 22 RBI in 44 playoff games...last appeared in a postseason series with the Yankees in the 2012 ALCS vs. Detroit.

Omar Infante = Omar recorded a career-best 66 RBI, the seventh-most by a Royals second baseman...one of only three Royals position players with postseason experience...he last appeared in the postseason in last year’s ALCS with Detroit vs. Boston...he’s a career .255 hitter in 30 career playoff games with 4 doubles and 11 runs scored. = Batted .303 (27-for-89) during the month of July with six doubles and eight RBI...he also hit .289 with two doubles, two triples and two homers in April. =He enjoyed a 4-for-5 effort with 3 doubles and 4 RBI August 19 in Colorado...it was his first 4-hit game as a Royal, while his 3 doubles matched a career-best... Matched a career high with 6 RBI in Baltimore on April 27, becoming the first A.L. second baseman to record 6 RBI in a game this season.

Erik Kratz = Erik joined the Royals on July 29 in a trade that sent infielder Danny Valencia to Toronto and also included right-handed pitcher Liam Hendriks. = He recorded his first career multi-home run game on August 18 at Target Field after entering as a pinch-hitter for an injured Salvador Perez in the seventh inning, homering on the first pitch...batted .333 (8-for-24) with a double, 2 home runs and 3 RBI in August…batted .281 after the All-Star break.

Mike Moustakas (L) =Mike blasted 15 home runs, which ranked seventh among A.L. third basemen...he hit 11 home runs between June 10 and August 25, which were tied for 10th-most in the American League during that span...had a pair of 6-game hitting streaks, most recently from September 11-16 in KC’s final homestand of the year.=He was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on May 22, after opening the year hitting .152 (19-for-125)...he was recalled on June 1 and hit .284 (19-for-67) with a double, five homers and 14 RBI from June 10 through July 4.

Jayson Nix = Jayson played with four different organizations this season, landing in Kansas City on August 28 after being claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. = Has played 6 positions (1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF, RF) in his Major League career, including 1B, 2B, 3B, SS and RF this season...saw his first-ever action at first base in his Royals debut on August 30...he’s one of three Royals position players with postseason experience, most recently playing for the Yankees in the 2012 ALCS.

Royals Notes - Oakland A’s @ Kansas City Royals - Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Hitting Notes (Cont.)Salvador Perez

= Salvador had another All-Star campaign with a strong first half of the season...started a Royals record 143 games behind the plate, while his 146 games as a catcher overall were also tops in team history...became the first Royals player to start in the Midsummer Classic since Jermaine Dye did in 2000. = Led A.L. catchers in hits (150) and multi-hit games (40), while he was second in extra-base hits (47) and tied for second in runs scored (57)...his 150 hits were the most by a KC backstop since Darrell Porter’s 155 base knocks during the 1979 season... his 17 homers tied for eighth-most by a KC catcher with Mike Macfarlane’s 1992 total. = Perez got off to a great start, hitting .283 with 18 doubles, 11 homers and 36 RBI before the All-Star break, but posted a .229 average with 11 doubles, two triples, six homers and 34 RBI after the break...despite hitting just .229 in August, he tied for 10th in the American League with 20 RBI. = Threw out 23 would-be base stealers, which ranked fifth in the American League...over the past two seasons, he’s nabbed 46 runners trying to steal, which are tops in the American League and rank third in the Majors, behind only Russell Martin (57) and Wellington Castillo (47).

Josh Willingham = Josh was acquired by the Royals in an August 11 trade with the Twins that also sent minor league pitcher Jason Adam to Minnesota...he hit .233 with 2 homers, 6 RBI and a .349 on-base percentage in 23 games for Kansas City...hit .344 (11-for-32) with 4 doubles, 2 homers and 6 RBI in his first 10 games with the Royals. = Blasted his first home run with Kansas City on August 17 at Minnesota, a two-run shot off former teammate Caleb Thielbar...also recorded his only three-hit game of the season August 18, going 3-for-5 against the Twins...it marked his first contest with 3 hits or more since August 19, 2012 when he was 4-for-4 vs. Cleveland.