It will come down to the final day.
If the Royals wish secure a fourth straight winning season for the first time in 36 years, they must beat the Cleveland Indians on Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. They must avoid a season-ending sweep at the hands of the AL Central champion Indians and stop their current losing streak at three.
That was the reality after a 6-3 loss on Saturday afternoon, after hot grounder to second baseman Whit Merrifield turned into a costly error, opening the floodgates in a three-run eighth inning.
The moment came with one out in the top of the eighth.