I listened to much of game three of the ALCS last night driving home to Russell. The game started just about time I was past the Manhattan exits, and was in the sixth inning when I pulled into the garage at 1224 North Brooks Street.

Last night’s game was the first ALCS contest in Kansas City since October 13, 1985, my ninth birthday. I’ll never forget that day, because I got a set of 1985 Topps baseball cards as a birthday gift. I kept the set right up until it got flooded by Hurricane Katrina 19 years, 10 months and 16 days later.

Twenty-one hours since arrive home, not only did the Royals complete a 2-1 victory over Baltimore in game three, they have recorded 24 of the 27 outs needed to win game four and complete the sweep. Kansas City scored two runs on a crazy play in the first when Alcides Escobar kicked the ball out of the glove of Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph at the plate, allowing Nori Aoki to also score. The Orioles pulled within 2-1 in the fourth on a home run by Ryan Flaherty, but that’s been it.

The Royals will now turn to Greg Holland to put the series away and send Kansas City to the World Series for the first time since 1985 and the third time overall.

I was tired most of the day, but I got my needed work done, albeit a little late. Now it’s waiting until I leave tomorrow at noon for the Mid-Continent League volleyball tournament at Smith Center. Tomorrow’s action starts at 3 p.m., and resumes Saturday at 9 a.m.