KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When Eric Hosmer laced a single down the right-field line, Lorenzo Cain came flying around second as if late for a job interview. A trip to the World Series was hanging in the balance. It was the moment Mike Jirschele had been waiting for.

Maybe not as long as everyone in this once-again baseball-crazed city thought, not back to Game 7 of the World Series last October when Jirschele, the Kansas City Royals’ third-base coach, threw up a stop sign for Alex Gordon, who stayed anchored at third base as Madison Bumgarner got the final out and the San Francisco Giants became World Series champions.

But Jirschele had waited long enough.

Having spent 13 years playing in the minor leagues and 22 more coaching there before getting to the major leagues last season, Jirschele understood the value of patience, of biding your time. So, earlier in the series, when Jirschele saw Jose Bautista, Toronto’s strong-armed right fielder, turn his back to home plate as he wheeled around to throw to second base, he took note.

On that play, it was Kendrys Morales, the designated hitter, running.

There was no need then to make a reckless decision, the same as last October when sending Gordon might have rescued the Royals — but more than likely would have gotten him thrown out by 20 feet.