KC earns a date with destiny vs MIN

9/27 - Municipal Stadium - Kansas City, MO
GAME 1 - Royals 9, Mariners 1
KC needed to take a minimum of 2 games to tie Minnesota for the final wild card slot. This 9-1 laugher was just what the doctor ordered. Mike Hedlund was 2 outs away from a complete game shutout. he did notch the victory and fanned 11 M's along the way. Sweet Lou Piniella went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI's. Joe Foy was 3 for 5 with 3 runs scored and 3 RBI's.

9/28
GAME 2 - Royals 2, Mariners 1
Gary Wheelock and Wally Bunker hooked up for this pitcher's duel. Bunker cracked first when Bob Stinson went deep with a solo shot in the 6th with 2 out. Rick Honeycutt came on to close it out, but couldn't get the job done. Buck Martinez pinch hit for Jerry Adair and singled. Joe Foy followed suit, as did Pat Kelly to load the bases. Lou Piniella, who has built a reputation on being clutch, fanned for the second out and Honeycutt looked to have weathered the storm. Unfortunately for Honeycutt he lost his control and walked the next two batters (Mike Fiore and Bob Oliver) to give away the game. KC clinched at least a tie with the Twins for the Wild Card.

9/29 - Kingdome - Seattle, WA
GAME 3 - Mariners 2, Royals 1
Tension began to mount as this game took on a post season atmosphere. Runs were at a premium and pitching continued to dominate as it had the day before. Both teams traded solo runs in the 6th and that's how it stood until the 11th inning when KC starter Dick Drago finally began to show some fatigue. Rupert Jones led the inning off with a single and Bob Stinson followed that with a walk. Dan Meyer grounded out to advanced the runners to second and third with one out, so Bill Stein was given an intentional pass to load the bases and create a force everywhere. Jose "don't call me Joan" Baez fanned on 4 pitches for the second out. With lefty Steve Jones already warm in the pen, KC decided to stick with Drago vs the light hitting Craig Reynolds, who dropped a parachute over Jerry Adair's head to plate the winning run. The M's got to play spoiler and by virtue of a coin flip KC will get to host Minnesota in a winner take all play in game for the Wild Card and a chance to play the Pilots in the opening round best of 5 series.