NEW YORK - With one swing, Christian Colon earned his World Series ring.
The Royals backup delivered in his first appearance of this postseason, lining a pinch-hit single that broke a 12th-inning tie and sent Kansas City over the New York Mets 7-2 early Monday in the clinching Game 5.
''I played this at-bat over and over in my mind,'' Colon said. ''I took a lot of swings in the cage behind to stay loose during the game.''
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
The 26-year-old infielder had been stuck on the bench during the Royals' run to the title. He hadn't played at all since Oct. 4 in the regular-season finale.
Kansas City manager Ned Yost, however, had no problem calling on him in the clutch.
''We were all pretty confident because Christian Colon understands how to play his role,'' said Royals Hall of Famer George Brett, now a team executive. ''Didn't overswing. He knew what he had to do. He's a very sound, fundamental player and he was the perfect man up there in that situation.''
Colon batted for winning pitcher Luke Hochevar with one out and pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson on third. Colon lined a single to left-center off Addison Reed, shouting and pumping his fist as he ran to first, and later scored as part of a five-run burst.
''I wasn't surprised when I got the opportunity. Ned let me know in the inning that I was going to hit third and be ready. He knew I was ready, he had the confidence that I was going to come through,'' Colon said. ''I was just excited, seeing all the smiles in the dugout, everyone just pumped out. Just an exciting moment.''
Colon was left off the World Series roster last year, when the Royals lost Game 7 to San Francisco.
''He broke his finger, and we didn't think he was throwing well,'' Yost explained.
''This year we kept him on. And the reason we kept him on because we felt as a staff, as an organization, that he was a clutch-type player. He's a winner,'' he said. ''And you put him in a situation, and he's going to give you everything that he's got. And for him to come through tonight and get the big hit was just, it was special.''
