Defending Champion Royals Beat Mets 4-3 In Opening World Series Rematch

The Kansas City Royals, defending World Series Champions, picked up right where they left off in November, defeating Matt Harvey and the New York Mets 4-3 at their own Kauffman Stadium in Kansas on Sunday night in the first opening-day rematch of last year’s World Series.

Royals Beat Mets 4-3 In Opening World Series Rematch

With runners on first and third in the ninth inning, All-Star closing pitcher Wade Davis struck out both Mets third baseman David Wright and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to lead the Royals to victory.

Dominican Royals pitcher Edinson Volquez allowed two hits and three walks over six scoreless innings.

The Mets rallied after Kansas City’s relief pitcher, Mexican Joakim Soria, came on in the eighth. New York scored three times on Lucas Duda’s two-run single and Neil Walker’s RBI groundout. Following the tying run on second, Kansas City right-hander Luke Hochevar struck out Asdrubal Cabrera for the third out.

“It was great to set the tone for the season,” Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said. “And it’s pretty cool to be part of history, too.”

The game marked the first time in history that two World Series teams faced off in the following season’s opener.

“They have terrific arms coming out of there,” Wright said. “That’s what makes them so good. They have an excellent bullpen. We knew that going in. They got a terrific start from Volquez today. You don’t want to go down three or four runs in the seventh, eighth or ninth against those guys.”

Finishing 2-for-2 with two walks, left-fielder Michael Conforto, 23, became the first Met to reach base four times on Opening Day since Xavier Nady in 2006, and the youngest to do so in franchise history.  Mets Center-fielder Juan Lagares nearly nabbed his first outfield assist of the season as Omar Infante attempted to dash first-to-third on Alcides Escobar’s single in the fifth.

Caption: KANSAS CITY, MO – APRIL 3: Alcides Escobar #2 of the Kansas City Royals throws to first past Lucas Duda #21 of the New York Mets as he attempts to complete a double play in the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium on April 3, 2016 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)