KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals not only won the all-important first game of the American League Championship Series, they did it in impressive style Friday with timely hitting and solid pitching behind Edinson Volquez.
The Royals' pitching staff is also forming something of a brotherhood as Volquez admitted his outing in Game 1 on Friday was inspired by Johnny Cueto's success in the winner-take-all Game 5 of the AL Division Series on Wednesday against the Houston Astros.
Yordano Ventura, who pitches for the Royals on Saturday, has been the weakest link of the club’s three starting pitchers thus far, giving up six runs on eight hits over just seven combined innings of two starts in the ALDS.