Royals' Escobar earns ALCS MVP after clutch series

Alcides Escobar's breakout postseason has earned him the MVP of the American League Championship Series.

The Kansas City Royals shortstop secured the award with his exceptional two-way play on both sides of the diamond, batting .478/.481/.652 with three extra-base hits, five RBIs, and six runs scored during the six-game series.

Escobar went 1-for-4 in Kansas City's 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6 on Friday. He drove in four runs during the Royals' 14-2 win in Game 4.

Escobar set a postseason record by getting a leadoff hit in the first four games of a series - he scored in two of those games. And he wound up going 11-for-23 against the Blue Jays, joining Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox as the only hitters to have at least 10 hits and five RBIs from the leadoff spot in LCS history.

''He's such a talented player,'' Royals manager Ned Yost said. ''But with the grind of a 162-game season, there are little periods where his focus will tend to waver a little bit. But during the playoffs, he just locks in. And when he's focused, he's as good as any player in the league.''

Escobar followed teammate Lorenzo Cain in becoming the second straight Royal to earn ALCS MVP honors. Both were part of the 2010 trade that sent pitcher Zack Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers - a deal that helped set up Kansas City's run of success.

(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)

His offensive outbreak hadn't diminished his otherworldly defense, either.

Escobar's diving catch of Russell Martin's hit with runners on first and second in the second inning of Game 2 has become a postseason highlight-reel staple. He made an equally impressive dive to catch reliever Ryan Madson's throw for a force at second base.

''When I'm coming to the field every game in the postseason, my main thing is I want to win the game. I want to do the best I can,'' Escobar said. ''And right now I'm really focused and I feel really good at home plate.''

- With files from theScore