Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas' breakout 2015 season hit a new high on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles as he went 3-for-5 with two home runs and a career-high nine RBI in a 14-6 victory.
In addition to Moustakas setting a new single-game benchmark for runs driven in, Joel Goldberg of Fox Sports Kansas City noted the other marks the 27-year-old broke or tied:
Here was the blast that allowed Moustakas to hit the nine-RBI mark, via MLB.com:
Even though Moustakas and the Royals will have more opportunities to create lasting moments in October during the postseason, this game against the Orioles is a stellar way to cap what has been a dramatic turnaround that dates back to last year's playoff run.
For instance, per Carrington Harrison, Moustakas' nine RBI on Saturday were more than he had in three different months last season:
Things were so bad for Moustakas early in 2014 that the Royals sent him down to Triple-A in May. He did return at the start of June but never rebounded to save his slash line.
In April, Moustakas told Matthew DeFranks of Fox Sports Kansas City that the struggles early in his career helped him to make swing adjustments leading to the much-improved results this year:
I took my lumps. I took my bumps, my bruises. It's just kind of what happens in baseball. You're not always going to have success in this game. You go 3 for 10, you're considered a Hall of Famer in your career. Just trying to put all that in perspective. I was young. I wanted to do so good when I first got up here. Now, it's just all about the team.
Making Moose's effort even more impressive is all nine of his RBI came in the last four innings. He hit a two-run single in the top of the sixth, a grand slam in the top of the seventh and a three-run home run in the top of the ninth.
According to Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star, Moustakas is the sixth player over the last decade with at least nine RBI. He also noted the player with the most RBI in a game during that span is Garret Anderson, who had 10 with the Los Angeles Angels in 2007.
Kansas City has virtually been on cruise control this season, jumping out to a huge lead in the American League Central and only riding out the string until it officially earns a playoff berth.
After reaching the World Series last October, Moustakas' offensive emergence adds another dynamic to a Royals team that's outstanding defensively and loaded in the back end of the bullpen.
Moustakas may not have another day like Saturday in his career, but his breakout game and season certainly make Kansas City look like it will be making another deep run in October.
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