For almost two hours on Saturday evening, the Royals held onto a one-run lead over the reigning-world-champion Astros.
The Royals' prospects for a victory seemed high. Royals starting pitcher Ian Kennedy had thrown seven innings of two-run baseball and was in line to win for the first time since April 7. Reliever Wily Peralta had allowed a walk in the eighth but flashed a high-90s fastball that helped him throw a scoreless frame.
But when the doors to the visiting bullpen opened to allow Royals reliever Brandon Maurer, the very same who posted a 12.46 ERA in five early-season outings before being designated for assignment in April, to enter the Minute Maid Park field in the ninth inning, the Royals’ chances for a victory wavered.