The box score says 10-2, but it was closer than that — until it wasn’t.
For seven innings, Game 2 of the World Series followed a tight script. Then Chris Hoiles tore the whole thing up.
The Kansas City catcher, batting just .152 in the postseason entering the night, erupted with a 4-hit performance, two home runs, and four RBIs, helping the Royals blow open a close game and push their World Series lead to 2-0 with a decisive win over the Washington Senators at Royals Stadium.
“That’s baseball,” Hoiles said postgame. “Sometimes you’re just a swing away from turning it around.”
It was Hoiles’ three-run shot in the eighth — his second of the game — that put it out of reach, launching a Chad Ogea fastball into the night and breaking the game wide open. That blast was preceded by a two-run homer from Quilvio Veras and a double from Orlando Merced, as the Royals turned a 4-1 game into a full-on rout.
Danny Tartabull added a solo shot of his own in the second, and Veras later crushed his first home run of the postseason — part of a six-run outburst in the eighth that chased Ogea and silenced any hopes of a Washington comeback.
On the mound, Denny Neagle turned in a complete game, allowing just four hits and striking out seven. He gave up a solo homer to Ronnie Durham in the third and another to Albert Belle in the ninth, but otherwise held the Senators’ bats in check all evening.
The Senators got little from their offense outside those solo shots. Alex Rodriguez went hitless, Carl Everett remained stuck in a slump, and the club left just two runners in scoring position all night. Andy Pettitte gave them six competitive innings but took the loss after being tagged for three runs.
“You can’t let these guys hang around,” said Senators manager Ruben Amaro. “They don’t just hit — they slug. And if you don’t keep up, you get left behind.”
With the series shifting to RFK Stadium, the Senators find themselves in a dangerous spot — down 0-2, outscored 15-6, and staring down a red-hot Kansas City lineup that has out-homered them 6 to 3 through two games.
“We’re going to find out what we’re made of,” said Everett. “We’ve got to punch back.”
BOXSCORE HIGHLIGHTS
Washington Senators – 2 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error
- Ronnie Durham: 2-for-3, HR, double
- Albert Belle: solo HR (9th)
- Andy Pettitte: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 5 K
- Bullpen (Hill, Ogea): 2.0 IP, 9 ER
Kansas City Royals – 10 Runs, 12 Hits, 0 Errors
- Chris Hoiles: 4-for-5, 2 HR, 4 RBI
- Quilvio Veras: 2-run HR (8th), 3 RBI total
- Danny Tartabull: solo HR (2nd)
- Denny Neagle: 9.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 7 K (CG W)
Series Update: Royals lead the best-of-seven 2-0. Game 3 will be Thursday in Washington, with Mark Guthrie scheduled to start for Kansas City and Erik Hanson for the Senators.