KANSAS CITY — The Kansas City Royals wasted no time setting the tone.
Behind a masterclass from ace Kevin Brown, the Royals dismantled the Cincinnati Reds 6–1 in Game 1 of the Federal League Championship Series at Royals Stadium. Brown went the distance, tossing a complete-game six-hitter to give Kansas City a 1–0 series lead.
Brown needed just 102 pitches to get through nine innings, striking out five and walking only one. His efficiency and command kept the Reds from ever mounting a real threat.
“I was determined to go the distance,” Brown said postgame. “This is the time of year when you want the ball and you want to set the tone. We did that tonight.”
Royals Strike Early
Kansas City pounced in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Jeromy Burnitz hammered a two-run homer off Cincinnati starter Mike Mussina. One inning later, Roberto Alomar doubled and came around to score on a single from Ray Lankford, making it 4–0 after four.
Jim Thome added a solo shot in the eighth, and Kansas City’s 11-hit night was backed by a lineup that looked locked in from top to bottom. Burnitz, Thome, and Alomar each had extra-base hits, while eight of nine starters reached base.
Reds Silenced
The Reds didn’t reach the scoreboard until the seventh, when Darrin Fletcher Vina’s RBI double plated Dave Nilsson, who had doubled earlier in the inning. That was the lone blemish on Brown’s night.
Cincinnati’s lineup, which exploded for 12 runs in their Game 7 win over the Cubs, was held to six singles and doubles. Bernie Williams, Matt Stairs, and Eddie Davis were all held hitless, combining to go 0-for-11 with four strikeouts.
Pitching Matchup
Mike Mussina, coming off two strong postseason starts, was touched up for six earned runs on 11 hits across seven innings. While he struck out eight, the Royals capitalized on two-strike pitches and did most of their damage with two outs.
Reliever Scott Bankhead threw a clean eighth to keep the game from getting further out of hand.
Looking Ahead
Game 2 is set for tomorrow at Royals Stadium, with Joey Hamilton taking the mound for Cincinnati and Mark Guthrie slated to start for Kansas City.
With Kansas City already showing dominance on both sides of the ball—and Kevin Brown giving them a series-opening jolt—the Reds will need to respond fast if they want to keep the Royals from running away with it.
Box Score Highlights
Cincinnati Reds
- RBI: Fernando Vina (1)
- Doubles: Vina (7th), Nilsson (7th)
- Hits: 6 total, none for extra bases beyond 7th-inning rally
- Pitching: Mike Mussina – 7.0 IP, 11 H, 6 ER, 8 K, 2 HR allowed
Kansas City Royals
- Home Runs: Jeromy Burnitz (1st, 2-run HR), Jim Thome (8th, solo HR)
- Multi-Hit Games: Burnitz (2-for-4), Merced (2-for-4)
- RBI Leaders: Burnitz (2), Thome (1), Veras, Lankford, Larkin (1 each)
- Pitching: Kevin Brown – 9.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 5 K, 1 BB
Player of the Game: Kevin Brown – CG, 6 H, 1 ER, 5 K, 0 HR
Series Update: Royals lead series 1–0. Game 2 set for October 7 at Royals Stadium.