Gordon, Moustakas homer in 10th as Royals take Game 1 of ALCS

In a game that featured some strange plays, ineffective outings by both starters, a blown four-run lead and an amazing escape act in the top of the ninth, Alex Gordon hit a go-ahead homer in the 10th inning as Kansas City took the opener of the best-of-seven American League Championship Series 8-6 over the Orioles.

Gordon's homer to right, on a 1-1 pitch from Darren O'Day, helped the Royals improved to 4-0 in extra innings in five postseason games. It was the first homer of the playoffs for Gordon, who had a four-RBI game.

After Gordon gave K.C. the lead, Mike Moustakas hit a two-run shot off Brian Matusz for insurance as the Royals moved ahead by three runs in the 10th.

Down 8-5, the Orioles pulled within two runs on a two-out Delmon Young pinch-hit single in the 10th. But Greg Holland got Nick Markakis to ground out to end the game.

The Royals team that finished last in the majors in homers has hit three go-ahead homers in extra innings this postseason. The Royals homered three times tonight and they've hit seven in five postseason games after hitting just 95 in the regular season.

A game tied at 5-5 after six innings turned into a battle of two of the game's best bullpens amid rain falling at Camden Yards.

The Orioles got to the bottom of the ninth, somehow keeping the game tied at 5-5. Zach Britton came on to start the ninth and got ahead of leadoff hitter Alcides Escobar, but walked him. Two more walks followed to load the bases with no outs.

This was the jam of jams. But Britton got a grounder to first for a forceout at the plate. Catcher Nick Hundley made an excellent scoop grab of first baseman Steve Pearce's low throw.

Manager Buck Showalter then called for O'Day, who got Billy Butler to bounced into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. Camden Yards came to life after the Houdini act by the O's bullpen.

Orioles starter hris Tillman allowed seven hits and five runs over 4 1/3 innings with two walks and three strikeouts. He threw 84 pitches in his shortest outing since June 5.

In two playoff starts, Tillman has pitched 9 1/3 innings allowing 11 hits and seven runs.

The Royals took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third. Leadoff hitter Escobar hit an unlikely homer for the 1-0 lead. He had homered just three times in 579 at-bats in the regular season.

With two on and two outs, Butler hit a grounder to deep short. J.J. Hardy's long throw bounced and Pearce could not come up with it as Butler reached on a hit and the inning continued.

That was huge as the next batter, Gordon, came up with a broken-bat three-run double down the right field line on a 3-2 pitch and advanced to third on Jonathan Schoop's error. That made it 4-0.

The Orioles quickly got one back in the home half of that inning on Adam Jones' RBI single. But K.C. moved back ahead by four on Butler's sac fly to make it 5-1 in the fifth.

The Orioles scored three in the home half of the fifth to make it a 5-4 game, and the rally was on. Nelson Cruz doubled in one to make it 5-2, and that was his 13th RBI in 19 ALCS games. Ryan Flaherty came up with a huge two-out two-run single to make it a one-run game.

The Orioles tied this game on an RBI bloop infield single that fell in just past the mound in the last of the sixth. Brandon Finnegan started the inning, replacing starter James Shields, and walked No. 9 hitter Jonathan Schoop before Nick Markakis singled.

The Orioles got a break when catcher Salvador Perez threw behind Schoop at second base. Schoop broke for third and made it with a stolen base when he was hit by the throw. De Aza's crazy infield single followed to make it 5-5.

Kansas City starter Shields gave up 10 hits and four runs over five innings and has an ERA of 5.63 in three 2014 playoff starts.

The Orioles host the Royals in Game 2 on Saturday afternoon at 4:07 p.m.