MLB Postseason: Royals take 3-0 lead over Orioles

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Updated: 2 a.m.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Mike Moustakas had his eye on the ball from the moment it left Adam Jones's bat, tracking it against the bright lights of Kauffman Stadium. When it settled into his glove and he tumbled into a dugout suite, a dozen fans were waiting to pick him right back up.

Just like Moustakas has picked up his team during its perfect postseason.

The third baseman with the four playoff homers dazzled with his glove Tuesday night. And when Billy Butler drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, the long-downtrodden Kansas City Royals were on their way to a 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles and a commanding 3-0 lead in their AL Championship Series.

"It really did fire up the whole stadium," Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said of his teammate's circus catch. "Hats off to the fans in the dugout suite, pick him up and put him back on the field. That was great. Moose finding ways to get it done."

The entire team has found ways to get it done. The wild-card Royals have won 10 straight postseason games, including all seven this year, in their first playoff appearance in 29 years.

The only thing that's slowed Kansas City so far was a rainout Monday.

"We've got a snowball effect going right now," Butler said. "The confidence couldn't be any higher. That's when you come to the park each day, focus on the next pitch, focus on your job and just not be the guy to end the streak" (see full recap).

Error gives Giants series lead over Cards
SAN FRANCISCO -- A wild pitch, a wide throw and an 18-inning marathon.

These playoff-tested Giants keep finding wacky ways to win in another special October.

An errant throw by reliever Randy Choate on a bunt allowed Brandon Crawford to score the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning, lifting San Francisco over the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Tuesday for a 2-1 lead in the NL Championship Series.

"Everybody's saying: `How are the Giants doing it? How are the Giants winning games?'" said Gregor Blanco, who laid down the sacrifice. "We just really believe in each other. We play together."

Crawford drew an eight-pitch walk from Choate to begin the inning, ending a stretch of 16 straight Giants retired since Tim Hudson's two-out single in the fourth. After failing on two sacrifice attempts, Juan Perez singled to bring up Blanco.

Blanco fouled off a bunt try, too, but then pushed one to the third-base side of the mound and the left-handed Choate's side-arm throw sailed past lunging second baseman Kolten Wong, who was covering first base.

"We had trouble getting the bunt down," Crawford said. "So I was happy he got it down. He put it in a great spot and made those guys make a play, and fortunately (we) saw the throw go wide" (see full recap).

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