Alcides' 15-game hit streak most in 1 postseason

Kansas City's free-swinging leadoff man made postseason history on Sunday night.

Amid the five-run 12th inning that sent the Royals to a 7-2 Game 5 win and their first World Series championship since 1985, shortstop Alcides Escobar knocked an RBI double to left field. Escobar's first hit of the night gave Kansas City a two-run lead and extended the infielder's historic hitting streak.

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Escobar has hit safely in each of his past 15 postseason games, dating back to Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Astros. His 15-game hitting streak was the longest in a single postseason overall, passing Manny Ramirez (14 in 2004) and Marquis Grissom (1995).

Ramirez (2003-04), Derek Jeter (1998-99) and Hank Bauer (1956-58) hold a tie for the longest overall postseason hitting streak, with hits in 17 straight games.

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Escobar led the Royals with a .329 average in the postseason, compiling a team-high 23 hits. That total set a single-postseason record for Kansas City.

Escobar's 23 hits were also the most in a single postseason by a shortstop. Jeter had 22 hits in three separate postseason runs, most recently in 2009.

Escobar has 42 career hits in the postseason, 14 behind Hall of Famer George Brett for the Royals' franchise record.