Unfortunately for the challenging Reds, Peter Danna and Kyer Vega of the Royals didn't quite feel like playing that extra game.

The two pitchers combined for six scoreless innings on the mound and drove in all five runs in the Royals 5-0 title-clinching victory Friday night.

Danna started the contest on the hill with Vega behind the plate and threw a successful three innings, managing to locate the outside corner with precision. He got into trouble only twice, most notably when Aaron Aguiar landed on third and was narrowly thrown out when he attempted to score on a passed ball. Danna still found time to put the Royals in the board in the third, smashing a ball into right field that pushed two runs across the plate.

Vega picked up right where Danna left off in the fourth, when the Royals flip-flopped their battery. Beginning with a 1-2-3 outing in the fourth frame, Vega protected his team's shutout and came through with some offensive fireworks as well. After Danna boarded the bags with an RBI double in the fifth, Vega sent the game's only home run over the right field fence to the delight of his teammates, who met him at home plate in jubilation.

Danna and Vega, of course, were not without a strong supporting cast, which was defensively impressive--as shortstop Ryan McMahon's over-the-back catch in the sixth showed.

The squad was also successful in getting runners on base with regularity. Brent Johnson led the effort with three hits.

The Reds tossed three pitchers in the effort, including Aguiar, who was brought in with two outs in the fifth and K'd the first batter he faced to end the inning. The team's lineup made good contact throughout the game, but often hit directly to Royals' fielders. Only Anthony Varni was able to put down an extra-base hit, a stand-up triple to right field in the third frame which put the Royals' hurler in a cautious mood.

The game was followed by the presentation of first and second place trophies. Reds coach John Fumia and Royals manager Ron Vega both acknowledged the enthusiasm, sportsmanship and skill that were characteristic of the major division season.

The trip to the championshipfinal was not simple for either team. The Reds and Royals met at the opening of the tournament and a narrow 1-0 loss sent the Reds to the elimination bracket. The Reds went on to top the Giants 11-10, and then both teams eked out their next wins--the Royals defeated the Yankees 10-8, while the Reds triumphed over the same team 10-9 to earn their place in the title game.