Dodgers that this was one of the crazier opening series he had been a part of. The last of the four games didn’t disappoint.A.J. Pollock hit a key double late http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-b.j.-upton-jersey , and the Dodgers were able to withstand a seven-run fourth inning by the Diamondbacks and rallied for three runs in the eighth for an 8-7 victory. The two-time defending NL champions took three of four games to start the season.“There is a lot of excitement about what we’ve got going,” said Pollock, who made it 7-all with his two-run double in the eighth against his former team. “It’s good for the club to know that we can be behind the game late, and if we put good at-bats together good things can happen. Sometimes it doesn’t always work out, but tonight it did.”Pollock tied it with a shot down the line against Yoshihisa Hirano and advanced to third when right fielder Adam Jones misplayed it. Pollock — who signed with Los Angeles as a free agent this offseason after spending his entire career with Arizona— then scored the winning run on Max Muncy’s sacrifice fly.Pollock had two hits in the game and seven in the series along with six RBIs. Cody Bellinger hit his fourth homer and had three hits, and Alex Verdugo drove in two.Los Angeles’ offense scored 43 runs, which is the most they have scored in a four-game series, and hit 15 home runs.“There were some at-bats that drove pitch counts up and let the next guy do his job,” Roberts said. “The overall quality of at-bats is as good as I’ve seen over the past couple years.”Dylan Floro (1-0), the sixth Los Angeles pitcher, worked an inning of scoreless relief. Kenley Jansen got his first save by retiring the Diamondbacks in order.Ketel Marte and Nick Ahmed each had two hits and two RBIs for Arizona. Starting pitcher Luke Weaver homered in his first game with Arizona but allowed five runs and six hits over 4 1/3 innings. Weaver’s homer came during a seven-run fourth, in which the Diamondbacks took a 7-4 lead. The right-hander was part of the return from St. Louis in exchange for slugger Paul Goldschmidt.The Diamondbacks committed three errors, which loomed large for manager Torey Lovullo.“We didn’t execute in key situations and gave them a couple extra baserunners with some miscues,” Lovullo said. “We did a good job getting the lead, but we couldn’t hold on to it.”Los Angeles jumped ahead with three runs in the first and one in the third. The Dodgers got their first three batters aboard in the first before Enrique Hernandez had a one-out sacrifice fly and Verdugo hit a two-run double to the gap in right-center.Bellinger extended the lead to 4-0 in the third with a home run to center on a 3-2 fastball by Weaver that he left near the middle of the zone.Walker Buehler allowed one hit over the first three innings before Arizona got to him the second time through the order. The right-hander allowed five runs and five hits in the shortest start of his career. It also marked the first time he didn’t get a strikeout in a start.Ildemaro Vargas led off the fourth with a double and scored on David Peralta’s single to center. Marte’s two-run single chased Buehler, and Ahmed’s two-run double off Pedro Baez gave Arizona a 5-4 lead. Weaver gave himself some insurance with a two-run homer to left on Baez’s fastball.TRAINER’S ROOMDiamondbacks: Pitcher T.J. McFarland is scheduled to throw his next bullpen session Tuesday. The left-hander is on the 10-day injured list due to inflammation in his left shoulder.Dodgers: Shortstop Corey Seager and third baseman Justin Turner were not in the starting lineup. Manager Dave Roberts said he prefers not to sit both on the same day, but Friday’s 13-inning game and Sunday being a day game after a night game were what prompted the move. Seager and Turner both came on to pinch hit.UP NEXTDiamondbacks: Merrill Kelly will make his major league debut Monday when Arizona opens a three-game series in San Diego.Dodgers: Left-hander Julio Urias makes his season debut as Los Angeles opens a three-game set with San Francisco on Monday. Close your eyes and dream."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Royals Trade Rumors & Hot StoveRoyals Minor Leagues & ProspectsRoyals Review ClassicRoyals Review Users GuideThe 100 Greatest Royals Of All TimeBack to the future: A glimpse at the 2022 Royals post-season teamNew,19commentsClose your eyes and dream.ESTShareTweetShareShareBack to the future: A glimpse at the 2022 Royals post-season teamRick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsNighttime had engulfed Kauffman Stadium on the fall evening of September 29th, 2022. The cold air sat still among the sea of blue that stood outside the gorgeous ballpark having seen its fair share of misery in the previous four seasons. The banners, attached from the light poles illuminating the path to the gates, whipped violently from side to side. It was a chilling 45-degree night in Kansas City Danny Salazar Jersey , although the wind made it feel about 15 degrees cooler. The lines were jam-packed and the walk from the parking lot seemed miles long for some. However, none of that mattered. On this night, the Kansas City Royals were hosting the Tampa Bay Rays for the 2022 American League Wild Card, 7 years and 364 days removed from perhaps the most entertaining baseball game in postseason history. Tonight would encapsulate the end of Dayton Moore’s second rebuild and the beginning of an immense amount of attention that would surround the organization longer than it had when the “Comeback Kids” stole the hearts of America a short number of years ago. The 2022 Royals were built off the solid foundation that began during the 2018 MLB draft, securing two current members of their starting rotation in Brady Singer and Daniel Lynch. The 24-year-old Lynch, showcasing an 11-8 record with a 3.22 ERA, would be toeing the slab against Rays starter and 2020 Cy Young award winner Blake Snell. The stadium, now reaching its maximum capacity, emulated a buzzing hum that pierced the air, mimicking a feeling all too familiar before. Beginning the pre-game festivities, a familiar face emerged from the first base dugout. Repping the number 1 in a spotless home white jersey and jeans, former outfielder Jarrod Dyson strolled to the mound as the evening’s participant for the ceremonial first pitch. Displaying his career highlights upon Crown Vision, the crowd went wild. Just when it couldn’t get any better, Dyson turned towards home and paid homage to his signature “Yung Joc” dance before firing a perfect strike to his old teammate, Salvador Perez. Showing he still had the athleticism at age 38, he perfected one final backflip and waved to the crowd as he strutted off the field. Moments away from first pitch, both teams lined perfectly across the baselines signaling the start of introductions. It was time to meet the individuals who made it possible to be in a position that seemed so drastically unachievable in recent years. After mumbling the starting nine for the American League East runner-up, Royals PA Mike McCartney’s voice turned from an unenthused tone to a bellowing shout. “Noowwww, it’s time for your Royals starting lineup”. The crowd erupted, waving their blue and grey towels that presented the postseason slogan, “Return to Royalty”. It was an electric sight that would raise the hairs on the back of the neck of any sports fan. “Let’s meet the manager of the Royals http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-b.j.-upton-jersey , number 28, Pedro Grifol!” In his third season since taking over Ned Yost’s position-Grifol had led Kansas City to a 90-72 record-finishing three games back the American Central Champs - the Chicago White Sox.Rambling through the remaining positions, the stage was finally set. McCartney shouted once more. “Heeeeere come yourrrr Kansas City Royals!” The nine players, led by Lynch, scattered onto the empty diamond behind a deafening roar. Heading towards the endless outfield was one of the league’s most intriguing trios. In left field, a 24-year old Silver Slugger candidate who slashed .252/.301/.505 during the regular season with 31 home runs, good enough to earn him an appearance in the 2022 Home Run Derby at Wrigley Field, was Seuly Matias. Over in center, smooth-swinging Khalil Lee was well on his way to winning his first Gold Glove in only his second full year in the Major Leagues. Productively reducing his 38% strikeout rate from a season ago, Lee was molding himself into one of best upcoming outfielders in the American League. Patrolling right field was the super-utility man and fan favorite Whit Merrifield. Entering the final year of his contract in Kansas City, Merrifield’s bat and legs remained serviceable in batting .277 and swiping 21 bags. Unfortunately for him, he was pushed out of his regular position of second for good by Nicky Lopez in 2021.From left to right in the infield was the best defending core Kauffman had seen its gates opened in 1973. Covering the hot corner was 2019 second-overall pick Bobby Witt Jr., who was the leading candidate for the Rookie of the Year honors. The 21-year old phenom had dismantled opposing pitching featuring a slash line of .311/.388/.501 with 25 home runs and 102 RBI’s. Standing to his left was perhaps one of, if not the best player in baseball, Adalberto Mondesi. The league had come accustomed to his freakish abilities back in 2019 where he managed to mash 27 home runs and collect 65 stolen bases. But 2022 was a whole different kind of animal. Mondesi was in the midst of surmounting the best statistical season a player has put up since George Brett’s MVP season in 1980. Leading the league in batting average (.352), stolen bases (81), triples (15), the kid who at one point saw much of his early career in Omaha, was on pace to win Kansas City’s first MVP title in 42 years. His double-play partner,Nicky Lopez ,had a quiet but solid year at the dish. Although he only mustered eight home runs and sporting a .257 batting average Edwin Encarnacion Jersey , Lopez led the team in walks (112) and led the league in defensive WAR at 3.4. Manning the other hot corner was the slender 23-year old first baseman Nick Pratto. After a cataclysmic first half in which he fell below the Mendoza Line with a .188/.234/.388 line, many had questioned if Pratto’s sophomore slump would squander the chances of the Royals claiming that top wild-card spot. However, with the doubts hovering above him, Pratto surged in the second half to finish batting .271 including boasting a .375 average against right-handed pitchers. Receiving the warm-up tosses behind the plate was the predecessor of Salvador Perez in M.J Melendez. Stepping into a role that once employed the face of the franchise and constant recipient of Gold Glove awards, the now 6’1, 200 lb Melendez had bounced back from his woeful rookie season in which he was a member on the I-70 bus to and from Omaha. Knocking in 65 runs in 2022, the kid from Daytona Beach, Florida was methodically moving himself in the right direction with his gaudy expectations. Of course, none of that wouldn’t have happened if Dayton Moore hadn’t resigned Salvador Perez to a two-year-extension at the end of the 2021 season. Now taking the role as a full-time DH and starting occasional Sunday afternoon games at catcher, Perez’s tutelage of the younger group had been noted as a paramount part of the team’s recent burst of success. As Melendez whipped the final practice toss from Lynch down to Mondesi at second, the former top prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays farm system, switch-hitting Wander Franco, dug into the right-handed batter’s box. The crowd clamored in unison. “Let’s go Royals!” clap* clap* clap*- clap*- clap* Again. “Let’s go Royals!” clap* clap* clap*- clap*- clap*. The echo could be heard from Power and Light where thousands had gathered to watch. Coming set at the belt Lynch hurled pitch number one. A 98 mph four-seam fastball that painted the outside corner for a strike. From the dugout suites to the top row, the stadium shook so violently from the noise it left its neighbor, Arrowhead Stadium, in awe. Baseball was back in Kansas City once again, and it was here to stay.