KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- An inside-the-park home run. A power failure that blacked out the TV audience. Crazy bounces, great plays and key errors.
The longest World Series opener ever had a little bit of everything. And more than five hours after they began, Alcides Escobar and the Kansas City Royals also had just enough energy to outlast the New York Mets.
Saved by Alex Gordon's tying home run in the ninth inning off Mets closer Jeurys Familia, the Royals won in the 14th when Escobar dashed home on Eric Hosmer's sacrifice fly for a 5-4 win late Tuesday night.
"It was a great night," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Two things you don't want in Game 1 of the World Series: One is to go 14 innings and the other is to lose."
"To find a way to grind that way out against a great team, both teams were matching pitch for pitch," he said.
This tied for longest Series game ever and ended at 12:18 a.m. From the get-go, it was wild and weird.
Escobar hit an inside-the-parker on the very first pitch from Matt Harvey. Later, that power problem caused fans and the team's replay rooms to go dark.
The nearer it got to midnight -- and beyond -- the more oddly the ball bounced.
In the 11th, Salvador Perez grounded a single that hit the third-base bag and caromed high in the air. In the 12th, Daniel Murphy struck out on a pitch that got past Perez -- it ricocheted off the backstop to the Royals catcher, who threw out Murphy at first.
About the only thing missing? A home run by Murphy, who had connected in a record six straight postseason games. The MVP of the NL Championship Series did contribute a pair of singles.
"Yeah, there was a lot of baseball out there," Murphy said.
In the 14th, Escobar reached on an error by third baseman David Wright. Ben Zobrist's single put runners at the corners and an intentional walk to Lorenzo Cain loaded the bases.
Hosmer atoned for a key error by lifting a flyball measured at 300 feet, and Escobar barely beat right fielder Curtis Granderson's throw home.
"I wanted to redeem myself for what happened earlier," Hosmer said. "That's the beauty of this game. Always get a chance to redeem yourself and can't thank my teammates enough."
Chris Young pitched three hitless innings for the win. Bartolo Colon gave up an unearned run and took the loss.
"Their team, one of the things we know about them is they're never down and out," Mets manager Terry Collins. "We've got to put them away. We've got to do a better job."
Game 2 is Wednesday night, with Jacob deGrom starting for the Mets against Johnny Cueto. It's a hairy matchup: DeGrom's flowing tresses versus Cueto's mop of dreadlocks.
Anyone who's ever seen the Royals play -- especially in October -- knows they're called resilient for a reason. Once again, they reinforced their reputation.
Gordon shook the ballpark when he tagged Familia, hitting a solo drive with one out over the center-field wall. The star closer hadn't blown a save since July 30 and had been nearly perfect this postseason.
Known more for his glove than his bat, Gordon connected when he said Familia tried to quick pitch him, and got a huge hug in the dugout from Hosmer. A two-time Gold Glove first baseman, Hosmer's error gave the Mets a 4-3 lead in the eighth.
"I was the happiest person in the stadium when Gordon homered," Hosmer said. "I told him, 'I just want to hug you right now.' I think a lot of people in Kansas City want to hug him."
Escobar provided the early excitement. He loves to swing at first pitches, and this time, the MVP of the AL Championship Series produced his best result yet.
A mix-up by Mets outfielders Yoenis Cespedes and rookie Michael Conforto helped Escobar wind up with just the second inside-the-parker to lead off a Series game. Ol' Patsy Dougherty of the Boston Americans did it in 1903 -- his came in the second game ever of what became known as the Fall Classic.
"As I ran after the ball, I looked at Conforto, and by the time I looked back up, I had lost the ball," Cespedes said through a translator.
Cespedes never put his mitt up and the ball glanced off his leg, darted along the warning and let Escobar score standing up.
Harvey brushed aside the misplay and quickly settled in. The Mets, meanwhile, soon caught up with Royals starter Edinson Volquez, who did his best on the day his father died in the Dominican Republic.
Volquez left the stadium before the game ended and headed home. Most the Royals didn't know about his dad.
"I found out in, I think it was the 14th inning, right before we won the game," Gordon said. "I was standing next to Ned and he told me, he said, 'Let's win this game for Volquez.' "
For both teams, this began as a lucky day.
Exactly 30 years earlier, on the same field, Bret Saberhagen and the Royals routed St. Louis in Game 7 for their most recent crown. The next year, also on Oct. 27, Darryl Strawberry homered to help the Mets beat Boston in Game 7 for their latest title.
By the time the Royals won early Wednesday, they'd already made Oct. 28 a day to remember, too.
UP NEXT
Mets: DeGrom is 3-0 this postseason, with each win coming on the road. He has struck out 27 in 20 innings against the Dodgers and Cubs in the playoffs.
Royals: Cueto, acquired from the Reds in late July, will make his first World Series appearance. He is 1-1 with a 7.88 ERA in three postseason starts this year.
TOUGH START
This is the Mets' fifth time in the World Series, and they've lost Game 1 all five times. They wound up winning the title in 1969 and 1986 and lost in 1973 and 2000. The Mets have gone to extra innings at least once every year they've reached the Series.



Final in 14
Playoff Series: Game 1 of 7

Mets 4

Royals 5







8:07PM,EDT,October 27,2015
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri 

4567891011121314 R H E
NYM 11101000000 4 11 1
KC 00200100001 5 11 1
W: C. Young (1-0)
L: B. Colon (0-1)






View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-PitchInning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14
New York - Top of 1stSCORE
Edinson Volquez pitching for Kansas CityNYMKC
Granderson flied out to left.00
Wright fouled out to right.00
Murphy struck out swinging.00
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Kansas City - Bottom of 1stSCORE
Matt Harvey pitching for New YorkNYMKC
Escobar inside-the-park home run to deep center.01
Zobrist flied out to center.01
Cain flied out to center.01
Hosmer walked.01
K. Morales grounded out to first.01
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Top of 2ndSCORE
Edinson Volquez pitching for Kansas CityNYMKC
Céspedes grounded out to third.01
Duda grounded out to third.01
d'Arnaud popped out to second.01
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Kansas City - Bottom of 2ndSCORE
Matt Harvey pitching for New YorkNYMKC
Moustakas lined out to left.01
Pérez singled to center.01
Gordon walked, Pérez to second.01
Rios flied out to center.01
Escobar grounded out to third.01
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Top of 3rdSCORE
Edinson Volquez pitching for Kansas CityNYMKC
Conforto grounded out to first.01
Flores lined out to left.01
Johnson hit by pitch.01
Granderson walked, Johnson to second.01
Wright struck out looking.01
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Kansas City - Bottom of 3rdSCORE
Matt Harvey pitching for New YorkNYMKC
Zobrist popped out to shortstop.01
Cain flied out to right.01
Hosmer grounded out to shortstop.01
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Top of 4thSCORE
Edinson Volquez pitching for Kansas CityNYMKC
Murphy singled to center.01
Céspedes popped out to second.01
Duda singled to right, Murphy to third.01
d'Arnaud reached on infield single to third, Murphy scored, Duda to second.11
Conforto fouled out to third.11
Flores grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, d'Arnaud out at second.11
1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors
Kansas City - Bottom of 4thSCORE
Matt Harvey pitching for New YorkNYMKC
K. Morales struck out swinging.11
Moustakas lined out to right.11
Pérez lined out to third.11
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Top of 5thSCORE
Edinson Volquez pitching for Kansas CityNYMKC
Johnson grounded out to shortstop.11
Granderson homered to right.21
Wright grounded out to second.21
Murphy grounded out to second.21
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Kansas City - Bottom of 5thSCORE
Matt Harvey pitching for New YorkNYMKC
Gordon struck out swinging.21
Rios flied out to left.21
Escobar grounded out to shortstop.21
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Top of 6thSCORE
Edinson Volquez pitching for Kansas CityNYMKC
Céspedes singled to center.21
Duda singled to shallow right, Céspedes to third.21
d'Arnaud struck out looking.21
Conforto hit sacrifice fly to left, Céspedes scored, Duda to second.31
Flores grounded out to third.31
1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Kansas City - Bottom of 6thSCORE
Matt Harvey pitching for New YorkNYMKC
Céspedes in left field.31
Lagares in center field.31
Zobrist doubled to right.31
Cain singled to right, Zobrist to third.31
Hosmer hit sacrifice fly to center, Zobrist scored.32
Cain stole second.32
K. Morales grounded out to pitcher.32
Moustakas singled to shallow right center, Cain scored.33
Pérez flied out to center.33
2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Top of 7thSCORE
Danny Duffy pitching for Kansas CityNYMKC
Duffy relieved Vólquez.33
Cuddyer hit for Johnson.33
Cuddyer struck out looking.33
Granderson flied out to right.33
Herrera relieved Duffy.33
Wright singled to shallow left.33
Murphy singled to center, Wright to second.33
Céspedes flied out to left.33
0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Kansas City - Bottom of 7thSCORE
Addison Reed pitching for New YorkNYMKC
Reed relieved Harvey.33
Gordon flied out to right.33
Rios fouled out to first.33
Escobar popped out to third.33
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Top of 8thSCORE
Kelvin Herrera pitching for Kansas CityNYMKC
Orlando in right field.33
Duda struck out swinging.33
d'Arnaud flied out to center.33
Lagares singled to center.33
Lagares stole second.33
Flores safe at first on error by first baseman Hosmer, Lagares scored.43
Cuddyer struck out swinging.43
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors
Kansas City - Bottom of 8thSCORE
Tyler Clippard pitching for New YorkNYMKC
Clippard relieved Reed.43
Zobrist doubled to right.43
Cain struck out swinging.43
Hosmer struck out swinging.43
Zobrist to third on wild pitch by Clippard.43
K. Morales walked.43
Familia relieved Clippard.43
Dyson ran for K. Morales.43
Moustakas grounded out to shortstop.43
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Top of 9thSCORE
Luke Hochevar pitching for Kansas CityNYMKC
Hochevar relieved Herrera.43
Granderson flied out to left.43
Wright singled to shallow left.43
Wright caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop.43
Murphy flied out to center.43
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Kansas City - Bottom of 9thSCORE
Jeurys Familia pitching for New YorkNYMKC
Pérez grounded out to shortstop.43
Gordon homered to center.44
Orlando flied out to center.44
Escobar grounded out to first.44
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Top of 10thSCORE
Wade Davis pitching for Kansas CityNYMKC
Davis relieved Hochevar.44
Céspedes struck out swinging.44
Duda struck out swinging.44
d'Arnaud struck out swinging.44
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Kansas City - Bottom of 10thSCORE
Jonathon Niese pitching for New YorkNYMKC
Niese relieved Familia.44
Zobrist fouled out to first.44
Cain struck out swinging.44
Hosmer struck out swinging.44
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Top of 11thSCORE
Ryan Madson pitching for Kansas CityNYMKC
Madson relieved Davis.44
Lagares reached on bunt single to pitcher.44
Flores sacrificed to pitcher, Lagares to second.44
Cuddyer struck out swinging.44
Granderson walked.44
Wright struck out swinging.44
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Kansas City - Bottom of 11thSCORE
Jonathon Niese pitching for New YorkNYMKC
Dyson lined out to right.44
Moustakas grounded out to third.44
Pérez reached on infield single to third.44
Gordon struck out swinging.44
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Top of 12thSCORE
Chris Young pitching for Kansas CityNYMKC
Young relieved Madson.44
Murphy struck out swinging.44
Céspedes struck out swinging.44
Duda struck out swinging.44
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Kansas City - Bottom of 12thSCORE
Bartolo Colon pitching for New YorkNYMKC
Colón relieved Niese.44
Orlando reached on infield single to third.44
Escobar sacrificed to pitcher, Orlando to second.44
Zobrist intentionally walked.44
Cain grounded out to first, Orlando to third, Zobrist to second.44
Hosmer intentionally walked.44
Dyson flied out to center.44
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Top of 13thSCORE
Chris Young pitching for Kansas CityNYMKC
d'Arnaud grounded out to shortstop.44
Lagares struck out swinging.44
Flores walked.44
Nieuwenhuis hit for Cuddyer.44
Nieuwenhuis fouled out to third.44
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Kansas City - Bottom of 13thSCORE
Bartolo Colon pitching for New YorkNYMKC
Moustakas singled to center.44
Pérez popped out to shortstop.44
Gordon grounded out to first, Moustakas to second.44
Orlando grounded out to shortstop.44
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
New York - Top of 14thSCORE
Chris Young pitching for Kansas CityNYMKC
Granderson grounded out to first.44
Wright flied out to left.44
Murphy popped out to shortstop.44
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Kansas City - Bottom of 14thSCORE
Bartolo Colon pitching for New YorkNYMKC
Escobar safe at first on throwing error by third baseman Wright.44
Zobrist singled to right, Escobar to third.44
Cain intentionally walked, Zobrist to second.44
Hosmer hit sacrifice fly to right, Escobar scored, Zobrist to third, Cain to second.45
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors





New York Mets
HittersABRHRBIBBSO#PAVGOBPSLG
Granderson RF51112028.200.429.800
Wright 3B70200227.286.286.286
Murphy 2B71200223.286.286.286
Céspedes CF-LF61100224.167.167.167
Duda 1B60200328.333.333.333
d'Arnaud C60110224.167.167.167
Conforto LF2001005.000.000.000
31200117.667.667.667
Flores SS40001023.000.200.000
Johnson DH10000010.000.500.000
a-Cuddyer PH-DH
30000316.000.000.000
b-Nieuwenhuis PH-DH
1000003.000.000.000
Totals514113315228   
a-struck out looking for K Johnson in the 7th
b-fouled out to third for M Cuddyer in the 13th
BATTING
HR: Granderson (1, 5th inning off Vólquez 0 on, 1 Out)
RBI: d'Arnaud (1), Granderson (1), Conforto (1)
S: Flores
SF: Conforto
Mets RISP: 1-10 (Céspedes 0-1, Flores 0-3, Wright 0-2, d'Arnaud 1-2, Conforto 0-1, Cuddyer 0-1)
Team LOB: 11
BASERUNNING
SB: Lagares (1, 2nd base off Herrera/Pérez)
CS: Wright (1, 2nd base by Hochevar/Pérez)
FIELDING
E: Wright (1, throw)

Game Information

StadiumKauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Attendance40,320 (106.4% full) - % is based on regular season capacity
Game Time5:09
Weather52 degrees, overcast
Wind5 mph
UmpiresHome Plate - Bill Welke, First Base - Mark Carlson, Second Base - Mike Winters, Third Base - Jim Wolf, Left Field - Alfonso Marquez, Right Field - Gary Cederstrom