KANSAS CITY -- Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar and first baseman Eric Hosmer -- both Gold Glove Award winners -- showed off their talents in a 3-2 win over the Red Sox on Wednesday in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader.
With the potential go-ahead run at second in a 2-2 game in the the fifth inning, Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts sent a one-hop smash headed for left field.
But Escobar dived to his right and snared the ball as he hit the ground. Escobar quickly rose to one knee and fired a one-hop strike to Hosmer, who stretched to just nip the sliding Bogaerts at first.
The Red Sox waited to hear from their replay coordinator, and then passed on a challenge.
"That was such a huge play," Royals starter Ian Kennedy said. "At first I thought it was a great play just to save a run. And then we get the out, with Esky throwing a fast guy out from his knees. Esky has saved me all season."