KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Wade Davis remembers the conversation he had with Don Zimmer when both were with the Rays.
“It was four or five years ago and Don Zimmer said, ‘If you get the opportunity to do something else, take advantage of it,’ ” the Royals’ closer recalled Monday, a day before the Royals and Mets open the 111th World Series at Kauffman Stadium.
Davis was a middling starter in those days, registering a 25-22 record in 64 starts with the Rays before moving to the bulllpen for his final season with Tampa.
When Royals closer Greg Holland’s season ended on Sept. 18 and Tommy John surgery followed, Davis was given the opportunity Zimmer spoke about. Manager Ned Yost turned Davis, the eighth-inning reliever, into the closer.
“That was rough, he was the anchor,’’ said Ryan Madson, who replaced Davis in the eighth. “It was different.’’
In name only because Davis, who started 24 games as recently as 2013, was brilliant following Holland, who posted 34 saves. Davis went 4-for-4 in save chances with a win. In 3 ²/₃ innings he allowed a hit and whiffed six.
He has appeared in five postseason games this October, recording three saves and a victory. In 6 ²/₃ innings, Davis has allowed three hits, no runs, three walks and struck out 10.
Of course, the most memorable was Game 6 of the ALCS against the Blue Jays on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium when the hard-throwing right-hander worked 1 ²/₃ innings around a 45-minute rain delay and escaped after letting the first two Blue Jays get to second and third with no outs in the ninth with the Royals leading, 4-3.
Davis retired the final three batters for the save and sent the Royals to the World Series for the second straight season.
“The last time I pitched two innings was two weeks ago [Game 4 of the ALDS] and I was sore after that. It felt pretty similar,’’ Davis said. “It felt like I started.’’
Davis will have three days’ rest when Game 1 commences Tuesday night and the Royals have their fingers crossed whatever soreness invaded Davis’ body is gone.
In the wake of Madson giving up a game-tying, two-run homer to Jose Bautista and walking Edwin Encarnacion in the eighth inning of Friday’s Game 6, Yost was asked if might restructure his pen.
“It’s a possibility, we are still evaluating some things on the roster. We are always evaluating the bullpen,’’ said Yost, who could move right-hander Luke Hochevar into the seventh-inning slot and put Kelvin Herrera in front of Davis.
However Yost opts to shape the bullpen that has been the biggest asset in the past two seasons, Davis will remain the closer because when he got the opportunity Zimmer talked about he led the Royals back to the World Series.