Kansas City: When Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost learned opening-game World Series starting pitcher Edinson Volquez had been hit by tragedy, he sought strength from another hurler fighting off similar sorrow.
And in the end, Yost's decision to rely upon Chris Young played a key role in the Royals' dramatic 5-4, 14-inning victory over the New York Mets to launch Major League Baseball's best-of-seven final.
Volquez's 63-year-old father Daniel died of heart disease before the game in their native Dominican Republic. Volquez's wife asked that her husband not be told until he was out of the game, the 32-year-old right-hander's first World Series start.
"We found out about it before the game and the wishes of the family were let Eddie pitch," Yost said. "So I was kind of keeping my eye on him, didn't want him to hear about it. And he was fine. He didn't know. And I guess after the game is when he found out."
Young lost his father Charles to cancer last month and third baseman Mike Moustakas' mother Connie died of cancer in August -- the slugger using his bat to write his mom's initials in the batter's box dirt every time he approaches the plate.
But those heartbreaks gave Yost the opening he needed to confide in Young, the right-hander scheduled to start in New York in Saturday's game four.
"I talked to Chis Young and told him if Eddie finds out, you know how tough that can be," Yost said. "I remember Chris just went through it. Mous went through it with his mom. It's a very tough thing, especially right before you are about to go out and pitch.
"It would be almost impossible to do that in game one of the World Series. I told Chris to be ready in case something happens and he would have to pick up the slack."
World Series adrenaline
Something did, but not what Yost feared. Volquez allowed three runs on six hits while striking out three, throwing 53 strikes in 78 pitches.
But the game matched a World Series record for the most innings. With his bullpen of relievers exhausted, Yost turned to Young and he hurled three innings of shutout relief, his 53 pitches silencing the Mets' hitters long enough for the Royals to score the winning run.
"Our plan was we could go 45 to 50 pitches with Chris and bring him back a day early (on Saturday). He would be fine with that," Yost said. "Once he got to the 50-pitch mark it was OK, we're going all-out to win this game. But we ended up winning in kind of our threshold."
And Young showed fastball speeds he had not demonstrated since 2009.
"World Series adrenaline I guess," Yost said. "Nothing affects him. He's just going to come in and make pitches and hold the fort until we could find a way to win."
That's how Young remained after the win.
"I was just ready, whatever the team needs," Young said. "That's been my role all season, just trying to help this team win.
"We've got our work cut out, but tonight was huge. The character, the fight, to find a way to win late, that's a great team effort."
AFP
