[Nick Soulis]

Broadcasters For Series #224



Royals Rule In Stunner Of Phils
Greinke’s brilliance seals 4–1 triumph over 1985 Phillies; Schmidt solid but silent as power bat goes quiet



Game 1
At Veterans Stadium
2004 Kansas City Royals 6
1985 Philadelphia Phillies 1
WP: Z. Greinke (1-0) LP: K. Gross (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Zack Greinke (9 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 112 P)
2004 Royals Lead Series 1-0

Veterans Stadium was silent last night. What began as a cool October evening filled with hope turned sour in one ugly inning, as the 2004 Kansas City Royals stunned the 1985 Phillies with a six-run barrage in the seventh, rolling to a 6–1 victory in the opener of their Field of Dreams series. The Phillies had the early edge. Juan Samuel’s run-scoring single in the third gave Kevin Gross a slim cushion, and through six innings it looked as if Philadelphia might grind its way to a win. Then, suddenly, the wheels came off. Gross, who had battled control issues all night, saw the dam burst when Joe Randa tied the game with two outs in the seventh. Carlos Beltrán followed with a ringing double into right-center to put Kansas City ahead, and catcher Alberto Castillo dealt the decisive blow, driving in two more as the crowd of 32,000 groaned. By inning’s end, the scoreboard read Royals 6, Phillies 1, and the Veterans Stadium faithful were headed for the exits. Meanwhile, Kansas City’s 20-year-old ace, Zack Greinke, was nearly flawless. Mixing pinpoint fastballs with darting off-speed pitches, Greinke scattered just three hits over nine innings, never allowing the Phillies to mount a serious threat. He did not issue a walk, and struck out three.
“He looked like a veteran out there,” Phillies manager John Felske admitted. “We couldn’t get him off his rhythm.”
For Philadelphia, the loss cut deep. The Phillies must now win behind Shane Rawley tonight to avoid returning to Kansas City in a dire hole. The club’s veterans, particularly Mike Schmidt and Von Hayes, will be under the microscope after combining for just one hit in eight at-bats.
The Phillies faithful came ready to celebrate a throwback October night. Instead, they trudged home under clear skies, muttering about errors in the field and a flat lineup. Game 2 now looms as a must-win, less than 24 hours away.

Game 2
At Veterans Stadium
2004 Kansas City Royals 9
1985 Philadelphia Phillies 10 (11 inn)
WP: Z. Greinke (1-0) LP: K. Gross (0-1)
HR: None
POG: Zack Greinke (9 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 112 P)
Series Tied 1-1

If the 49,196 fans at Veterans Stadium came for drama, they got their money’s worth Wednesday night. In a game that swung like a pendulum from start to finish, the 1985 Philadelphia Phillies survived the furious 2004 Kansas City Royals, pulling out a 10–9 victory in 11 innings to even Series #224 at one game apiece.
It was veteran Garry Maddox, “the Secretary of Defense,” who found himself at the center of it all. With the bases loaded and no outs in the 11th inning, Maddox took a Jason Grimsley fastball squarely, forcing in the winning run. He walked toward first grimacing but was immediately mobbed by his teammates as the crowd roared into the cool Philadelphia night.“This place was electric at the end,” Maddox said. “I just wanted to get on base any way I could. That pitch hurt, but the win feels pretty good.” From the start, it looked like Philadelphia might coast. Ozzie Virgil ripped a bases-clearing double in the first, and Glenn Wilson added a two-run double in the second. By the time Von Hayes crossed the plate for the third time in the fourth inning, the Phillies had staked John Denny to a 7–2 advantage. But the Royals, unfazed, kept clawing back. Dennys Reyes struggled out of the gate, but Kansas City’s offense refused to fold. Andres Blanco drilled a solo homer in the sixth, and in the eighth Matt Stairs delivered the game’s most thunderous blow—a three-run shot to right off Don Carman that knotted the score at 9–9.
The Vet went silent. The Phillies’ bullpen was reeling, the Royals were surging, and suddenly Philadelphia’s six-run cushion had vanished.
If Maddox was the finisher, Von Hayes was the instigator. The lanky center fielder drew three walks, collected a single, and scored four times—a new Field of Dreams postseason record. His speed and patience wreaked havoc on Kansas City’s pitching staff all night.
“Von was the difference,” manager John Felske said. “He just kept finding ways to get on base, and when he did, we made them pay.”
Wilson finished with five runs batted in, and Mike Schmidt chipped in two more, keeping the Royals on their heels despite Kansas City’s ten-hit attack.
Kansas City’s offense wasn’t without its heroes. Carlos Beltran stole two bases and scored twice, Blanco finished with three RBI, and Stairs’ blast nearly turned the night into another upset. But Kansas City stranded five men, and by the time Grimsley lost control in the 11th, the bullpen had been stretched beyond its limit.
“We battled,” Royals manager Tony Peña said. “We gave ourselves every chance. But walks, hit batsmen—that’s no way to win in October.”
The Phillies, now tied 1–1 in the series, head to Kansas City with renewed momentum. Veterans Stadium had been restless after Tuesday’s collapse, but last night’s marathon left fans chanting and dancing in the aisles. “It wasn’t pretty, but it was Philadelphia baseball,” Schmidt said with a grin.

Game 3
At Kauffman Stadium
1985 Philadelphia Phillies 4
2004 Kansas City royaks 5
WP: J. Afeldt (1-0 ) LP: D. Carman (0-1)
HR: J. Samuel (1)
POG: Matt Stairs (3-5, 2 2B, 2 RBI, R, walk off hit)
2004 Royals Lead Series 2-1


Walk off!

Good evening once again from Kauffman Stadium, and what a night of baseball we have witnessed here in Kansas City. The Royals have taken a 2–1 series lead in thrilling, walk-off fashion, edging the 1985 Phillies 5–4. It was Philadelphia who struck first, jumping out with three runs in the opening frame off starter Chris George. Juan Samuel belted a leadoff hit, and Mike Schmidt’s two-run double had the Phillies faithful in attendance believing this was their night. By the fifth, Samuel added a solo home run and it was 4–0. But the Royals, resilient as ever, chipped away. A run in the sixth, three more in the eighth—J. Buck coming off the bench with a huge pinch-hit two-run single to tie the score—and suddenly the ballpark was roaring.
Then came the ninth inning. Don Carman tried to hold Kansas City in check, but with two aboard, Matt Stairs, the stocky slugger, delivered the defining swing. A booming double to right-center, scoring the winning run and sending the Royals pouring onto the field in celebration.
Kansas City out-hit Philadelphia 14 to 9, with Stairs going 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI. Chris George gutted through eight innings, and Jeremy Affeldt picked up the win in relief. The Phillies, despite strong showings from Von Hayes and Juan Samuel, now find themselves trailing in the series. And folks, this stadium is still vibrating—what a finish in Kansas City!”

Game 4
At Kauffman Stadium
1985 Philadelphia Phillies 4
2004 Kansas City royaks 7
WP: J. Afeldt (2-0) LP: S. Carlton (1-1)
HR: Mike Sweeney (1)
POG: Mike Sweeney (3-5, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R)
2004 Royals Lead Series 3-1


Walk off again!

Hello again, everybody. From Kansas City, Missouri, the story of this Field of Dreams series has been one of heartbreak for the Phillies and jubilation for the Royals. And tonight, it came to its final chapter.
The Kansas City Royals of 2004, a club that endured its share of struggles in its own era, has found magic here in the cornfields. With the crowd roaring, with the pressure mounting, the Royals seized the moment, defeating the Phillies of 1985 and clinching this best-of-seven affair, four games to one.
For Philadelphia, it was a series of missed chances. They rallied in Game 2, only to be undone by consecutive walk-offs in Games 3 and 4. And tonight, they simply could not summon enough offense to extend their season. Mike Sweeney, Matt Stairs, Carlos Beltran — all played starring roles for Kansas City. And the pitching, though tested, stood tall in the late innings. The Royals showed resilience, grit, and just enough firepower to write their names into the lore of this tournament.
For the Phillies, Mike Schmidt fought valiantly, Von Hayes brought his spark, but in the end, it wasn’t enough. Their season closes here under the lights of Kauffman Stadium.
So the curtain falls on Series #224, with Kansas City advancing, and Philadelphia left to wonder what might have been. A tale of drama, of three straight walk-offs, of unforgettable October baseball.
From Kansas City… this is Harry Kalas, saying good night, everybody.”

Game 4
At Kauffman Stadium
1985 Philadelphia Phillies 1
2004 Kansas City royaks 4
WP: Z. Greinke (2-0) LP: K. Gross (0-2)
HR: None
POG: Zack Greinke (9 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 129 P)

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, from Kauffman Stadium, where the Kansas City Royals of 2004 have just finished writing their own chapter in Field of Dreams history. For the first time, these Royals can call themselves champions, closing out the Philadelphia Phillies of 1985 with a decisive 4–1 victory to take the series, four games to one.
On this cool October night, Zack Greinke was magnificent—composure beyond his years. Nine innings, five hits allowed, one unearned run, nine strikeouts, and not a single walk surrendered to the heart of a Philadelphia lineup that was searching for answers all night long. Greinke painted the corners, trusted his defense, and slammed the door with poise. He is tonight’s Player of the Game, and rightfully so.
The Phillies tried to mount some pressure early—Juan Samuel doubled and scored their lone run in the third—but the big bats of Mike Schmidt and company couldn’t solve Greinke when it mattered most. Kansas City’s defense, particularly the double-play combination of Angel Berroa Blanco and Tony Graffanino, turned in key plays to extinguish rallies before they could spark. Meanwhile, the Royals’ lineup went about their business in workmanlike fashion. A two-out RBI double from Graffanino tied the game, and then a key knock by Angel Blanco put Kansas City in front. Alberto Castillo chipped in with three hits and a big RBI to give the Royals breathing room. Carlos Beltran even added another stolen base, reminding us of the athletic edge this club brings to the table.For the Phillies, it is a bitter end. Kevin Gross battled but couldn’t quite hold down the Kansas City order, and a club led by veterans like Schmidt and Von Hayes just never found the late-inning magic that had carried them in the past. Schmidt, always outspoken about the PED era, now walks away from this series with dignity intact but short of the prize.
But tonight, the story is Kansas City. The fans here at Kauffman Stadium roared as the final out was made—a ground ball scooped by Sweeney and stepped on first for the clincher. The Royals pile out of the dugout, celebrating their first taste of Field of Dreams glory. From the shadow of long, hard seasons in the early 2000s, this group stands alone as champions of Series #224. This is Harry Kalas, signing off from Kansas City, where the Royals of 2004 have defeated the Phillies of 1985, four games to one, in a memorable and hard-fought series."

2004 Kanas City Royals Win Series 4 Games To 1

Series MVP:

Zack Grienke
(2-0, 18 IP, 0.50 ERA, 1 BB, 12 K, 0.50 WHIP, .163 OBA)