Greg Holland tied Dennis Eckersley’s record by saving his fourth game in the American League Championship Series, and he and battery mate Salvador Perez jumped into their first Fall Classic since 1985 with yet another postseason sweep. “We’re not done. We ain’t done yet,” Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said.
Greg Holland tied Dennis Eckersley’s record by saving his fourth game in the American League Championship Series, and he and battery mate Salvador Perez jumped into their first Fall Classic since 1985 with yet another postseason sweep. “We’re not done. We ain’t done yet,” Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said.Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Crown these Royals the American League champions.

After nearly three decades spent trying to return to the playoffs, Kansas City is taking its perfect postseason ride all the way to the World Series.

With more dominant defense, an opportunistic offense that plated two runs in the first inning, and a bullpen that shut down the Baltimore Orioles once again, Greg Holland and the wild-card Royals wrapped up a sweep of the AL Championship Series with a 2-1 victory Wednesday.

Next stop: the Royals’ first Fall Classic since 1985. They’ll face the winner of the NLCS between the Cardinals, whom they beat in that World Series in ’85, and Giants.

NLCS

SAN FRANCISCO – Buster Posey drove in three runs, and the San Francisco Giants took advantage of some clunky defense by St. Louis first baseman Matt Adams, beating the Cardinals 6-4 on Wednesday night to move within one victory of the World Series.

Chasing their third title in five years, the Giants lead the best-of-seven National League Championship Series 3-1 after poor throws cost the Cardinals yet again.

October ace Madison Bumgarner can pitch San Francisco to another pennant Thursday night at home in Game 5. Struggling All-Star Adam Wainwright will start for St. Louis, now facing the same daunting deficit the Giants overcame to beat the Cardinals in the 2012 NLCS.