Intro:

Post-game reaction after the Kansas City Royals beat the Oakland Athletics 9-8 in the American League (AL) wild-card playoff at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri on Tuesday (30 September).

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English) Bob Melvin, Oakland Athletics Manager

"In Jon's (Lester) case he pitched well for us. Just tired a little bit there after the (Eric) Hosmer walk but left with a lead and gave us a chance to win. So, I mean you don't expect the score to be (high) with those two guys pitching, especially with the bullpens, but that's why you play the game."

SOUNDBITE (English) Ned Yost, Kansas City Royals Manager

"Oh, man. No, that's the most incredible game I've ever been a part of. Our fans were, man, unbelievable. Our guys never quit. When we fell behind there in the fifth inning, sixth inning, they kept battling back. They weren't going to be denied. It was just a great game."

SOUNDBITE (English) Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals First Baseman

"Oh, man, it was a roller coaster ride just like you said. Just, they put up two in the first inning, 2-0 alone off a guy like (Jon) Lester, you realise it's a battle, and we battled back. Both teams battled back the whole night. And for us to come down from a four-run deficit late in the game like that, it was crazy. But this game just kept going back and forth, back and forth, both teams battled, and I think that's what postseason baseball is all about."

SOUNDBITE (English) Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals Catcher (On winning hit)

"Like (Eric) Hosmer said, I missed a lot opportunity (at the) end of the game. But I never put my head down. And he told me slider, go with slider. I didn't see the video

yet, but he threw me a good slider down. So I just cleared my front body, stay with the ball, he did well in the front and I got the basehit."