KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Ahead 3-1 after seven innings of play in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, it appeared as though the Kansas City Royals were World Series-bound for the fourth time in franchise history.
Even FOX Sports, the network airing both series, was convinced.
During the bottom of the seventh inning, FOX Sports ran a graphic that prematurely displayed the Royals as the American League Champions, set to oppose the New York Mets in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday.
Check out @FS1 calling the game and series for the #Royals. Sorry, #BlueJays. #ALCS #WorldSeries #Mets #Postseason pic.twitter.com/HHC0dhmkb2
— Geoffrey Sorensen (@GSorensen) October 24, 2015
In the top of the eighth, facing former Phillies reliever Ryan Madson, Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista evened the game with a two-run blast to left field, his second home run of the game and series overall.
Left fielder Ben Revere, who played 335 games in red pinstripes from April 2013 to July of this season, made a key catch in the outfield during the seventh, keeping Toronto in striking distance.
In the eighth, Revere hit a leadoff, infield single to set up Bautista's game-tying home run.
FOX Sports' play-by-play announcer Joe Buck addressed the network's error during the 45-minute rain delay:
"I don't think, for conspiracy theorists, it's any more complicated than hitting the wrong button."
Advancing to the World Series in back-to-back years appeared to be in question for Ned Yost's team.
Following the delay, however, the Royals took a 4-3 lead in the latter-half of the eighth thanks to a RBI-single by first baseman Eric Hosmer.
Revere struck out with one out and two runners in scoring position in the top of the ninth, facing RHP Wade Davis. American League Most Valuable Player candidate, third baseman Josh Donaldson, followed by grounding out to third to end the series.
There was no "FOX Sports jinx" after all.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
