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          SweetSpot

          Johnny Cueto's dominance puts Royals back in ALCS

          • Doug Padilla, ESPN Staff WriterOct 15, 2015, 03:04 AM
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              Doug covers the Los Angeles Dodgers for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN Chicago in July 2010 and covered the Chicago White Sox for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN Radio 1000 through the 2015 season.
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          KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals sure do like to have their backs to the wall, rallying for a victory yet again Wednesday, this time to eliminate the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series.

          The 7-2 victory came after they trailed by two runs just two innings into the game. All three of the Royals' victories in the series were of the come-from-behind variety. They won Game 2 after trailing by scores of 3-0 and 4-1, then took Game 4 with an impressive rally from four runs down in the eighth inning.

          The Royals are also 4-1 in elimination games since the start of the 2014 postseason, losing only in Game 7 of last year's World Series to the San Francisco Giants.

          Royals starter Johnny Cueto gave up a two-run home run to Luis Valbuena in the second inning but began to dominate soon after, retiring the next 19 batters he faced. Wade Davis pitched the ninth inning.

          Royals No. 9 hitter Alex Rios put his team in the lead for good with a two-run double in the fifth inning off reliever Mike Fiers. He then scored on a sacrifice fly from Ben Zobrist.

          Thumbs up: Cueto was exactly the kind of pitcher the Royals thought they were getting when they traded three left-handers to get him from the Cincinnati Reds in July. He had been mostly a disappointment in the regular season, although he had been coming on in late September. He was mediocre in his Game 2 start in the ALDS before delivering a gem in Wednesday’s clincher.

          Thumbs down: Mike Moustakas was the vocal leader who inspired the improbable Game 4 rally, but he has been searching for an offensive game to come around. His 0-for-4 night in Game 5 made him 2-for-18 in the opening series, but the start of the ALCS on Friday gives him more time to get on track.

          Up next: The best record in the American League means you get to stay home and let your opponents come to you. The Royals will play host to the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS starting Friday, with Edinson Volquez the likely Game 1 starter, although Yordano Ventura could be used on three days of rest.