HOUSTON
A strange mix of frustration and determination fills the losing clubhouse. It is quiet. Somber. A group of professional athletes with genuine love for each other and real expectations for more is now one loss from sadness.
The Royals were never supposed to win this game. Not against Astros ace Dallas Keuchel, and not in this place, where he is some combination of Sandy Koufax and He-Man.
But baseball is endlessly unpredictable, and also a cruel minx, so the Royals head back to their hotel rooms knowing the American League Division Series swung away from them with a 4-2 loss on Sunday that absolutely could’ve been the other way.