VIDEO: Colon Hits Go-Ahead Single In 12th (MLB.COM)
VIDEO: Colon's Postgame Interview
NEW YORK - Former Cal State Fullerton infielder Christian Colon drove in what turned out to be the game-winning run in the 12th inning to help lead the Kansas City Royals to a 7-2 victory over the New York Mets in game five of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field, helping the Royals clinch the series four games to one.
Colon stepped in as a pinch-hitter in the top of the 12th inning with the score tied 2-2 and the go-ahead run at third base. He worked a five-pitch at-bat off Mets reliever Addison Reed before lacing a 1-2 slider into left field to score Jarrod Dyson and put Kansas City ahead 3-2. The Royals would score five runs in the inning and cruise to the second world title in franchise history.
Colon becomes the fourth former Titan to be on a World Series roster. He's the first to appear in a World Series game since outfielder Aaron Rowand won his second world title as a member of the San Francisco Giants in 2010. Rowand is the only Titans player to appear in the World Series twice, winning his first title with the Chicago White Sox in 2005. Mike Lamb (2005, Houston Astros) and Greg Mathews (1987, St. Louis Cardinals) are the other Titans to be on a World Series team's playoff roster.
Colon also earned the seventh World Series ring by a Titan in history. Gary Brown (2014, San Francisco Giants), Brett Pill (2012, Giants), Aaron Rowand (2010, Giants; 2005, Chicago White Sox), Dan Naulty (1999, New York Yankees) and Mark Kotsay (1997, Florida Marlins) are the others to win a ring. Colon is just the second former Titan to win a ring while on the World Series roster, the other being Rowand in 2010 and 2005.
Colon was on the postseason roster throughout the American League Division Series, Championship Series and World Series but did not have an at-bat until Sunday night. In fact, Sunday night's base hit was his first at-bat since October 4th. Colon appeared in 43 games for the Royals in 2015 and batted .290 with 31 hits and 11 walks in 119 plate appearances. He had five doubles and six RBI.
Colon had shown a knack for 12th inning dramatics in the MLB Postseason as the former Titan made his postseason debut in the 2014 A.L. Wild Card Playoff game against the Oakland Athletics. After entering the game in the 10th inning as a pinch hitter, Colon came up in the 12th with the Royals down 8-7. Colon hit a high chopper halfway up the third base side that could not be handled by then-Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson, allowing Eric Hosmer to score the tying-run and giving Colon his first career MLB playoff hit and RBI. Colon followed that up by stealing second base and then scored the game-winning run on an RBI single by Salvador Perez.
In his three seasons with the Titans, Colon posted a career .349 batting average with 267 hits, 214 runs scored, 46 doubles, 6 triples, 29 home runs and 147 RBI. Colon ranks fourth in runs on the Titans all-time career record book. He also ranks sixth in hits, hit-by-pitches (44) and eighth in total bases (412).
