Billy Butler drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning as the Royals' bullpen shut down the Baltimore Orioles the rest of the way for a 2-1 victory on Tuesday to give Kansas City a commanding 3-0 lead in the American League Championship Series.
Third baseman Mike Moustakas made two top plays as the Royals won their 10th straight post-season game, including all seven this year.
Earlier, a wild throw by relief pitcher Randy Choate on a bunt allowed Brandon Crawford to score the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning, lifting the San Francisco Giants over the St Louis Cardinals 5-4 for a 2-1 lead in the National League Championship Series.
Kansas City will send Jason Vargas to the mound for Game 4 on Wednesday needing just one more win to reach their first World Series since 1985. Miguel Gonzalez will try to help the Orioles stave off elimination.
The Royals' Jeremy Guthrie and Orioles' Chen Wei-yin engaged in a tense pitching duel for five innings.
Chen gave up a leadoff single to Nori Aoki in the sixth. Eric Hosmer followed with a one-out single to put runners on the corners, and Orioles manager Buck Showalter brought in hard-throwing reliever Kevin Gausman to face Butler.
The Royals' designated hitter sent a fly ball to left field for the tiebreaking run - just the latest example of Kansas City doing the little things right.
After winning pitcher Jason Frasor breezed through the sixth, Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis nailed down the next two innings. All-Star closer Greg Holland worked a perfect ninth for his third save of the series, setting off a wild celebration in the stands.
It was the 13th game to be decided by one run this post-season.
At San Francisco, Crawford drew an eight-pitch walk from Choate to begin the inning, ending a stretch of 16 straight Giants retired since Tim Hudson's two-out single in the fourth. After failing on two sacrifice attempts, Juan Perez singled to bring up Gregor Blanco.
Blanco fouled off a bunt try, too, but pushed one to the left and the left-handed Choate's sidearmed throw sailed past lunging second baseman Kolten Wong, who was covering first base.
Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Wednesday night, with Ryan Vogelsong pitching for the Giants against fellow righty Shelby Miller.
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