Royals victory electrifies crowd at Power & Light District

The Kansas City Star

The fans packed in the Power & Light District already had wound themselves up and screamed themselves hoarse through nearly eight innings Wednesday night, but when Kendrys Morales hit that three-run homer, they went bonkers.

Morales’ shot over the wall all but cemented the Kansas City Royals’ victory in Game Five of their American League Division Series over the Houston Astros, and people here didn’t wait to celebrate it.

For a fan base that went into the game perhaps a little nervous, it was just another Kansas City miracle.

“Nobody expects it,” said Rob Williams Sr., 55. The father and his son, both born and raised here, were on hand and said they haven’t missed a game in the postseason. “Nobody ever expects the Royals. They’re a comeback team.”

With the blast of a confetti cannon and a barrage of brain-melting strobe lights, Kansas City called it a game.

About a half-hour later, when the game actually ended, the most common look on faces in the crowd was glassy-eyed bliss.

Asked how he felt about the win, and the prospect of yet another playoff series, the younger Rob Williams, 33, struggled for words.

“Phenomenal.”

The Royals advanced to the American League Championship Series to host Toronto in Game 1 at 7:07 p.m. Friday night.