Cheers to Gordon's bat, glove in home victory

KANSAS CITY -- Up with the bases loaded and one out in the first inning on Friday, Alex Gordon came through with a three-run double to ignite the Royals' 7-5 victory over the White Sox and bring the sellout crowd to its feet.

Gordon had been in that situation in a home opener before. That came in Gordon's first game as a Royal in 2007 and it didn't turn out so well. Mark Grudzielanek, Mark Teahen and Mike Sweeney were on base with singles when Gordon came up for his very first at-bat in the Major Leagues.

That time, though, Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling struck him out.

"I got the same reaction," Gordon recalled with a smile. "I struck out and they gave me a standing ovation. It's the same reaction, just different results."

At that time, Gordon was a natural crowd favorite as a ballyhooed rookie forecast to have a big career with the Royals. That's come to pass, but after a rockier road than expected.

Gordon not only demonstrated his batting prowess on Friday, but he also picked up his second assist from left field in the second inning. Alexei Ramirez tried to score on Tyler Flowers' single but was thrown out, Gordon to shortstop Alcides Escobar to catcher Salvador Perez.

"That wasn't me, that was all Esky right there," Gordon said. "That's what's so great about having Escobar. You just make a good throw and he's going to do the rest. He's been doing it for the last three years and you saw it again."

By the way, that 2007 opener turned out well for the Royals despite Gordon's strikeout. They beat Schilling and the Red Sox, 7-1.