The Kansas City Royals defeated the Houston Astros, 7-2, on Wednesday night to advance to the American League Championship Series for the second consecutive season.
In the decisive Game 5 of the division series matchup, Johnny Cueto looked like the ace the Royals were hoping to acquire at the trading deadline, needing just 91 pitches to cruise through eight innings, giving up two hits, two runs and striking out eight. He left the field in the eighth inning to a raucous ovation from the Kauffman Stadium crowd. Wade Davis relieved him in the ninth.