Witt's wheels fuel sweep of O's as KC has 1 message: 'We belong here'

BALTIMORE -- Bobby Witt Jr. leaned over his bat with his right foot on the top step of the dugout on Wednesday and looked around. Camden Yards was rocking, an energetic crowd turned all the way up as fans whipped their orange towels around moments before the first pitch of Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series.

A day earlier, Witt realized how much he liked hearing the crowd, boos and all, as a visiting player and silencing it with a game-winning hit.

Round two was in store Wednesday.

Witt’s blazing speed on an infield single hit 108.7 mph up the middle was the game-winner again in the sixth inning in the Royals’ 2-1 win over the Orioles at Camden Yards, and with Witt’s hustle down the line and a sweep of the Orioles, the Royals are moving on.

Kansas City will face the AL East champion Yankees in a best-of-five Division Series beginning Saturday night in the Bronx.

“That's the fun part of this game,” Witt said. “This is why we do it, these situations here. It really just comes down to controlling what I can control, just being present in that moment, be where my feet are and enjoy the moment. You never know when this opportunity is ever going to happen again, so make the most of it while you have it.”

• Everything you need to know about ALDS Game 1

On paper, the Royals were underdogs entering this week’s American League Wild Card Series against the Orioles at Camden Yards. The No. 5-seed Orioles won more games (91) than the No. 6-seed Royals (86) in the regular season. The Royals had to play on the road and play their own game without letting the moment get too big.

Mission accomplished.

“Anything is possible,” closer Lucas Erceg said after securing two saves in his first career postseason series. “We’re just going to keep playing hard. Keep proving to people that we belong here, that we can compete at the highest level. We can’t wait.”

A combination of excellent pitching, highlight-reel defense and letting their stars be stars is sending Kansas City into the ALDS. The Royals allowed one run in 18 innings this series. The bullpen did not allow any in 7 2/3 frames.

“Sign me up,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “Nobody could think that's going to happen. They trusted themselves and went right after those guys. … They challenged them, and that's a credit to our pitching department and pounding that message into those guys day in and day out.”

Royals starter Seth Lugo had terrific help from his defense on Wednesday, including a leaping catch near the left-field wall from MJ Melendez and a run-saving diving grab from second baseman Michael Massey in the fourth inning, with runners only advancing to second and third because of it.

“The pitchers set the tone, and it keeps us in the game,” Massey said. “When they’re pitching like that, it makes it a bit easier to make those plays.”

But no one could catch or save the fastball that Cedric Mullins crushed over the right-field wall for a game-tying home run in the fifth inning. Things went sideways for Lugo afterward, allowing two singles – including a comebacker that he misplayed – with a walk in between to load the bases with one out.

What a moment for Angel Zerpa’s postseason debut, then, when Quatraro called on the lefty to get out of the inning. Zerpa struck out Colton Cowser on a pitch that hit him (and eventually caused him to leave the game with left hand pain, later diagnosed as a fracture), then got Adley Rutschman to ground out to Witt to silence the O’s threat.

That set up Witt’s sixth-inning moment. Kyle Isbel singled with one out, and Massey followed with two outs. Once again, the Orioles faced a decision of whether to pitch to Witt with a man on third and a base open.

“He’s the guy you want up in that situation,” Massey said. “He’s the guy we trust.”

Once again, the O’s elected to challenge Witt. Off the bat, Witt thought he had a clean hit up the middle. Then Jordan Westburg made an “unbelievable play” in Witt’s words, to make a diving grab and have a chance for an out.

It took 4.14 seconds for Witt to race down the line.

“I don’t think anybody that’s been following us all year didn’t think he was going to beat that out,” said Vinnie Pasquantino, who knocked in the game’s first run in the first inning.

General manager J.J. Picollo was just hoping Westburg wouldn’t throw to second for the out. He wasn’t worried about Witt.

“Bobby was going to beat that out,” Picollo said. “I knew that. He can do so many things on the field to help you win games.”

“Just run,” Witt said he was thinking when he saw Westburg snag the ball. “Look at [first-base coach] Damon [Hollins] when he shouts, ‘Run.’”

“I didn’t have to yell,” Hollins shouted nearby. “That’s what you do.”

Now Witt and the Royals get to bring postseason baseball back to Kansas City, a goal of theirs as they entered 2024 – not just get to October, but bring playoff games back home.

For the first time since 2015, The K will host playoff games: Game 3 on Oct. 9 and Game 4 the next day, if necessary.

That crowd won’t be silent for big Bobby moments.

As Witt walked out to the field for a group photo with his teammates and friends and family, Witt grabbed two Budweiser beer bottles. He positioned them into his goggles and strapped it onto his head – “I’ve got to get my costume ready,” he said.

Before going home, Witt and the Royals will head to Yankee Stadium.

“I can’t wait,” he said with a grin, securing the goggles onto his head, and dashing up the dugout steps onto the field.