MINNESOTA _ For 32 years, the number lived. It survived through boiling summers in Kansas City and losing seasons inside Kauffman Stadium and two championship parades through downtown. It outlasted the rock-hard astroturf and the old jumbotron in left field and helmets with no flaps on them. They moved the fences in for a time. They remodeled the stadium. For a few years, an unknown percentage of players throughout baseball were juiced on steroids, and still, it remained.
The number was 36, of course, and for more than three decades, no Royals hitter could touch it. In the summer of 1985, Steve Balboni, a mustachioed, bald-headed slugger from New England, clubbed 36 home runs, the most in the history of the Royals. And after a while, the dubious record took root, becoming as much a part of Kansas City baseball as fountains or George Brett or the color blue.
And then came Friday night here at Target Field. Mike Moustakas stood at the plate in the top of the third inning. Minnesota's Dillon Gee hurled a 2-2 fastball. One swing exorcised 32 years of demons.
In a 7-6 Royals victory over the Twins, Moustakas roped a 368-foot homer off a railing in deep right field, notching his 36th home run and equaling Balboni's mark. As the record-tying blast became official, the baseball ricocheted back onto the grass playing surface as Moustakas touched first base.
"And there it is!" screamed Royals broadcaster Ryan Lefebvre, sitting in a second-floor booth at Target Field.
The homer, a three-run shot in the 133rd game of the season, provided a 5-2 lead during a five-run third inning. It was Moustakas' first since Aug. 15, snapping a personal 12-game drought. Designated hitter Brandon Moss would add his 18th homer of the year in the sixth as the Royals claimed the first game of a critical three-game series.
The Royals (66-67) escaped in a bizarre bottom of the ninth when Kelvin Herrera allowed two runs and exited with another apparent injury with two runners on base. Reliever Scott Alexander entered and struck out Minnesota's Eddie Rosario with the bases loaded to preserve the victory.
Kansas City pulled within 3{ games of the Twins in the chaotic race for the final American League wild-card spot. They must win at least one more this weekend to remain within striking distance entering the early days of September.
On Friday afternoon, Royals manager Ned Yost offered a simple approach for the divisional series: "Just win," he said. His team answered the call as Moustakas collected a piece of history. The next mission is 37 _ and more wins.
In some ways, this record-tying homer was anticipated, even expected. Moustakas had 25 home runs at the All-Star break and earned an invitation to the Home Run Derby in Miami. All across baseball, homers are flying out of ballparks at a record pace.
But there is a reason why Balboni's mark stood for more than three decades. Since 1985, 348 players had hit at least 36 homers, including three others this year. But none accomplished the feat while wearing a Royals uniform. Some came close, of course. There was Danny Tartabull in 1987 (34); Gary Gaetti in 1995 (35 in just 137 games); and Dean Palmer in 1998 (34).
But Moustakas, a former No. 2 overall pick in 2007, became the first Royals hitter to catch Balboni. In the moment, the offense was needed.
Royals starter Jason Hammel would surrender four earned runs in 61/3 innings, including two during the bottom of the first. Yet the offense fought back in the third. Lorenzo Cain ripped an RBI single into center field. Melky Cabrera roped an RBI double on his way to a four-hit game. And moments later, Moustakas stepped to the plate with Cabrera at second and Hosmer at first.
Moustakas fell behind 0-2 on the first two pitches _ two fastballs from Gee. But he would battle back, pitch by pitch, fouling off one fastball before Gee, a former Royals pitcher, missed with two off-speed pitches.
On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Gee threw another fastball in the zone. This time, Moustakas did not miss.
One swing. One record-tying homer. One victory.
