Bobby Witt Jr. and the Royals advance to the AL Division Series after two losses in their last seven games

BALTIMORE (AP) — After another defeat in September handed the Kansas City Royals a second loss in seven games in the final month of the season, Will Smith saw the upcoming off day as a chance to make his teammates laugh.

“You’re looking at this wrong,” Smith said. “The bright side is that we can’t lose tomorrow.”

The Royals won four of their last six games and reached the playoffs a year later setting a franchise record with 106 lossesand then a two-game sweep from Baltimore they go to the AL Division Series to face the New York Yankees. It is the culmination of a remarkable turnaround from one season to the next and from one game to the next.

“We’re just focused on the moment,” he said First baseman Vinnie Pasquantinowho had his surgically repaired right thumb During a lively clubhouse party, he was covered as a precaution while spraying champagne. “We’re just focused on winning this pitch and that’s what this team does. Losing streaks, winning streaks – it doesn’t matter. We just focus on the next pitch. We’ve done a really good job and we’re going to keep trying to get it done.”

AL batting champion Bobby Witt Jr., the drove in the starting run In Games 1 and 2, he said the goal was “one out after another, 27 times.”

Manager Matt Quatraro, also a playoff rookie, said his players are taking that mentality to heart.

“You believe it,” Quatraro said. “You can’t just talk about it. You can't just stick it on a t-shirt and say “let's go” or put it on a poster on the wall. You have to live it. These guys do it.”

General manager JJ Picollo made an effort last offseason and at the trade deadline to surround his young core with veterans full of playoff experience. in came Smith, a three-time World Series-winning relieveralong with Game 2 starter and All-Star Seth Lugo, Yuli Gurriel, Tommy Pham and Michael Wacha, who may get the ball for the ALDS opener at Yankee Stadium.

Leadoff hitter Michael Massey on Wednesday recalled Smith's snide comment last month as a particularly strong example of older players easing the team's spirits when there were plenty of slumped shoulders and reasons for concern.

“It was kind of eye-opening,” Massey said. “We lost seven in a row. Everyone thinks we won't make the playoffs. We're going to screw it up. Then there's this guy who makes a joke about it.

“It shows you their experience and their confidence. You've been there before. You did it.”

Now the Royals all have a winning playoff experience – getting out of a tense matchup by allowing one run over 18 innings while scoring three times. It's the first time Kansas City has won a playoff series of any kind since finishing atop baseball as World Series champions in 2015.

“I think it’s the start of something special,” Witt said. “We didn’t come this far just to get this far, so we’re going to keep working at it and keep trying to create our own legacy.”

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