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Escobar sets Royals playoff record for longest hit streak

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Alcides Escobar looked quite comfortable in the batter's box one day after Noah Syndergaard's 97-mph fastball ignited a firestorm of controversy.

The Kansas City Royals shortstop stayed hot at the plate Saturday when he sent Steven Matz's fastball back up the middle for a leadoff single to begin Game 4.

Escobar's 22nd hit of the postseason - already a franchise record - extended his hitting streak to 14 games, the longest in team history. He matched Lorenzo Cain's 13-game streak Friday with a single in the second inning, and now has a hit in every game except for the opener of the ALDS.

YEAR PLAYER STREAK
2004 Manny Ramirez 14
1995 Marquis Grissom 14
2015 Alcides Escobar 14

Escobar's 14-game run is tied for the longest in a single postseason, though the all-time mark belongs to Derek Jeter (1998-99) and Manny Ramirez (2003-04), who both strung together 17-game streaks over consecutive playoff appearances.

Syndergaard sent Escobar to the ground Friday when the New York Mets right-hander fired the first pitch of Game 3 toward the shortstop's head. Syndergaard later said the pitch was meant to make Escobar feel uncomfortable at the plate.

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