Kansas City, Missouri, Oct 24 (EFE; odds by IDSca.com). – First baseman Eric Hosmer drove in Lorenzo Cain in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the Kansas City Royals to a series-clinching 4-3 win here over the Toronto Blue Jays and a second straight berth in the World Series.

Cain scored all the way from first base on the play, having been sent home when Royals third-base coach Mike Jirschele noticed that right fielder Jose Bautista was throwing the ball to second base to hinder Hosmer’s progress instead of to the cutoff man.

The star center fielder finished off the play with a phenomenal slide to break a 3-3 tie in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, played Friday night at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Bautista had been the hero for the Jays earlier in the game with his power hitting, including a solo home run in the top of the fourth that narrowed the lead to 2-1 and a two-run blast in the top of the eighth that tied the game 3-3.

After a 45-minute rain delay, however, the Royals regained the lead and then held on for the victory despite some nerve-wracking moments for the home fans.

In the top of the ninth, the Blue Jays put runners on first and third with no one out against star Royals closer Wade Davis thanks to a single by catcher Russell Martin, two stolen bases by pinch runner Dalton Pompey and a walk.

But Davis, who had entered the game and got his team out of a jam in the eighth and also worked the ninth despite the rain delay, calmly struck out the next two batters and then got Josh Donaldson to ground out to end the game.

Reliever Roberto Osuna, who walked Cain and gave up the single to Hosmer in the bottom of the eighth, took the loss.

Venezuelan shortstop Alcides Escobar, who hit .478 for the series, was named the ALCS Most Valuable Player.

Blue Jays starter David Price gave up three runs in 6 2/3 innings and Royals counterpart Yordano Ventura worked 5 1/3 and gave up one run. Neither factored in the decision.

The Royals, who had rarely been competitive since winning their lone World Series in 1985, lost to the San Francisco Giants in seven games in last year’s Fall Classic.

They will take on the New York Mets starting Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium. EFE

In Costa Rica, leading Pay-Per-Head provider IDSca.com is anticipating that sportsbooks will be very busy with wagering action during the World Series.

The playoffs have already offered plenty of betting action and excitement with the playoff run of perennial underdogs the Chicago Cubs, a team that kept oddsmakers and line managers on their toes this year.

The Royals and the Mets are equally hungry for a World Series title that has eluded them both since the mid-1980s. These teams are expected to go the distance with Kansas City having a slight upper edge to win the Series 4-3.