"It was huge, because we're at the time and the point in the year now where we're going to need those guys in every close situation, whether it's a tie game or even if we're down one," Hosmer said.
With the Royals clinging to a 5-4 lead heading into the seventh inning, the Royals might have needed to use Wade Davis or Kelvin Herrera in the late innings to finish things out, with both Joakim Soria and Matt Strahm unavailable on Monday.