Royals Win On Wild Sprint-Off

Jarrod Dyson is fond of the maxim, "that's what speed do," which is an easy thing to say when you're as fast as Jarrod Dyson. But last night's thrilling come-from-behind win, in which two pinch-runners had their ways with the basepaths? That's what speed do.

Down one in the ninth to the White Sox, Dyson came on to run for Mike Moustakas after a rare opposite-field double. One out later, Dyson took off for third on what would be a wild pitch, and came all the way around with the tying run.

After a Nori Aoki double, it was Terrance Gore's turn to pinch-run—and his speed immediately came in handy as he scored from second on Lorenzo Cain's infield single.

With the win, the runnin' Royals stayed 1.5 back of Detroit for the AL Central, extended their lead in the wild card to two games.

"That," starter James Shields said, "was one of the most exciting walk-offs I've seen in a while."

The win clinched K.C.'s first back-to-back winning seasons since 1988 and 1989, a nice little factoid that won't mean much to fans if it doesn't come with the franchise's first playoff appearance in since 1985. And then? Well, the Royals have generally won with pitching, defense, timely hitting, and speed. Those are the sort of things that play well in October.