From unknown to World Series hero, Colon the quintessential Royal
Christian Colon wasn’t an unlikely World Series hero for the Kansas City Royals.
He was the perfect one.
Colon’s pinch-hit, go-ahead single in the 12th inning of Game 5 on Sunday night marked his first appearance in a game this postseason. Prior to Sunday night, he’d been a silent participant in the Royals’ autumn symphony.
So if there was a way to illustrate the full scope of the Royals’ depth, and how adept they’ve become at executing brilliantly in the biggest moments, a single by Colon was it.
And for the Royals, there was an even more significant parallel: Colon’s two previous postseason plate appearances came in the 2014 American League Wild Card Game -- the night the Royals created their comeback identity and began believing their now-realized World Series dream.
Colon laid down a sacrifice bunt in the first of those Wild Card plate appearances. The second -- in the 12th inning, just like Sunday night -- was more memorable: He singled home Eric Hosmer with the game-tying run and later scored on Sal Perez’s walk-off single down the left-field line.
In that way, Colon -- a name you haven’t heard very often over these past two Octobers -- is the quintessential Royal, who helped author the beginning and end of Kansas City’s championship story.
