Royals end classic wild card game with 9-8 win over A's

After waiting 29 years, Royals fans were treated to a classic playoff game. Salvador Perez singled home the winning run with two outs in the 12th inning to help cap off two late comebacks that gave Kansas City an epic 9-8 victory over the Oakland Athletics in the American League Wild Card game.

The A's took a 7-3 lead by the 6th inning, but the Royals countered with three runs in the 8th inning and one more in the 9th. In the top of the 12th inning, pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo delivered an RBI single off Jason Frasor to put the A's ahead 8-7, but Kansas City's Eric Hosmer hit a drive high off the left-center wall against Dan Otero for a leadoff triple in the bottom half. Soon after, rookie Christian Colon drove him in to tie the game before Perez singled in the winner.

Making their first postseason appearance since winning the 1985 World Series, the Royals will open their best-of-five AL Division Series out west this Thursday night against the AL West champion Los Angeles Angels. Game time is set for 9 pm ET.