Escobar sets Royals playoff record for longest hit streak

Alcides Escobar looked quite comfortable in the batter's box one day after Noah Syndergaard's 97-mph fastball ignited a firestorm of controversy.

The Kansas City Royals shortstop stayed hot at the plate Saturday when he sent Steven Matz's fastball back up the middle for a leadoff single to begin Game 4.

Escobar's 22nd hit of the postseason - already a franchise record - extended his hitting streak to 14 games, the longest in team history. He matched Lorenzo Cain's 13-game streak Friday with a single in the second inning, and now has a hit in every game except for the opener of the ALDS.

Escobar's 14-game run is tied for the longest in a single postseason, though the all-time mark belongs to Derek Jeter (1998-99) and Manny Ramirez (2003-04), who both strung together 17-game streaks over consecutive playoff appearances.

Syndergaard sent Escobar to the ground Friday when the New York Mets right-hander fired the first pitch of Game 3 toward the shortstop's head. Syndergaard later said the pitch was meant to make Escobar feel uncomfortable at the plate.