KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Johnny Cueto threw a complete-game two-hitter, and the Kansas City Royals batted around against Jacob deGrom in the fifth inning on the way to a 7-1 victory Wednesday over the New York Mets and a 2-0 lead in the World Series.

Cueto, who has been alternately hailed and maligned in Kansas City since coming over from the Cincinnati Reds by trade in late July, was a vastly different pitcher from the one who lasted a mere two innings against the Toronto Blue Jays in an 11-8 loss in the American League Championship Series.

With the exception of a shaky fourth inning, when he lost the strike zone and surrendered his only run on a bloop RBI single by Lucas Duda, Cueto was firmly in control. He dispensed with the Mets on 107 pitches through eight innings and received loud cheers before coming out of the dugout and setting down the Mets in order in the ninth. Cueto's performance spared the bullpen after the Royals asked for eight innings from their relievers in a 5-4, 14-inning victory in Tuesday's World Series opener.

Thumbs up: Eric Hosmer is threatening to make the RBI fashionable again. After delivering two sacrifice flies in the series opener -- including the game-winner in the 14th inning -- Hosmer provided the pivotal hit off deGrom during Kansas City's four-run outburst in the fifth.

When Hosmer grounded a deGrom slider up the middle to score two runs and give Kansas City a 3-1 lead, it continued a run of clutch hitting that has marked his entire postseason. Hosmer leads the Kansas City lineup with 15 postseason RBIs on a total of 12 hits.

Hosmer surpassed George Brett's franchise record of 23 career RBIs earlier in the postseason. He is at 27 and counting.

Thumbs down: It's a small sample size, but Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain is off to a 1-for-10 start in the World Series and has left eight runners on base.

What's next: The Royals will enjoy a day off in New York before sending Yordano Ventura to the mound against Noah Syndergaard in Game 3. Ventura has been dominant for short stretches, but he threw only 17⅔ innings over four starts in the AL playoffs against the Houston Astros and Toronto. He'll be on a short leash with Kansas City's bullpen so well-rested Friday.