Yost: Royals 'expected' to be back in World Series this year

Standing on a podium at Kauffman Stadium, aglow from his club's pennant-clinching victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 6 of the ALCS, Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost pulled on a cap emblazoned with a World Series logo on it for the second time in as many seasons.

"Last year, we were happy to be there," Yost said, pointing to the World Series insignia on the side of his AL champions cap. "This year, we expected to be here."

Keyed by some tremendous baserunning from Lorenzo Cain, who scored from first on a ninth-inning single from Eric Hosmer to plate the go-ahead run, the Royals eked out a rain-soaked, 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays on Friday night, becoming the first team to earn consecutive World Series berths since the Texas Rangers in 2010-11.

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"Our players, they had such a great season, they would never quit, they continued to battle, even when the chips were down a little bit," said Yost. "And it enabled me to put on this new hat here today that has World Series on it, and I'll see you guys on Tuesday."

The Royals came within one victory of securing the second World Series championship in franchise history last year, but fell to the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 at Kauffman Stadium, 3-2, following a superb five-inning relief appearance by left-hander Madison Bumgarner. On Tuesday, the Royals will host the New York Mets in Kansas City for Game 1 of the 111th edition of the Fall Classic, which will feature a pair of clubs that have both gone at least 29 years without a championship.