The Cardinals jumped the Royals for 5 runs in the top of the first inning and held on to defeat the Royals 12-10 in a Father’s Day matinee, salvaging the series and avoiding the sweep.
Stephen Kolek has been dynamite for the Royals in his tenure, but he simply didn’t have it today. Three pitches into the game, Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt blasted a solo shot into the right center seats. A hit batter, walk and double gave St. Louis a 2-0 lead. Masyn Winn put the exclamation point on the inning, hitting a 3-run homer into the Cardinals bullpen.
The Royals did respond with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, Carter Jensen led off with a single, Jac Caglianone walked, and Michael Massey hit a two-out single, to make it 5-2.
Kolek got smashed again in the top of the second, a leadoff double was followed by Wetherholt hitting an opposite field two run homer, making it 7-2. A single and RBI triple made it 8-2, Kolek did get two big outs not allowing the run to score, but Winn legged out an infield single to make it 9-2, ending Kolek’s day. Connor Seabold came on to get the last out of the 2nd.
In the bottom of the inning, Kameron Misner led off with a single, and scored on Nick Loftin’s two run homer, Loftin’s 2nd on the year, a 416-foot blast to left center. Isaac Collins singled, and after two straight outs, he scored on Caglianone’s mammoth two run shot into the second deck of fountains in right center, a 444-foot blast, making it 9-6. It was Cags 3rd straight game with a homer, and his 11th on the year.
Fast forward to the bottom of the 4th, Jensen and Cags worked walks, making it 1st and 2nd with two outs for Salvador Perez, who smacked an RBI single into center, making it 9-7. Massey flew out to right to end the inning.
Steven Cruz was rolling, striking out 3 batters to get his first 5 outs, but a 4 pitch walk to the number 9 batter, Nathan Church, opened the door for St. Louis. Wetherholt hit an opposite field single, and Iván Herrera blasted a crucial three run homer, making it 12-7 Cards, giving them some much needed breathing room.
Jensen got in on the home run party, slamming one to the opposite field, for his 10th on the year, making it a 12-8 ballgame.
To the bottom of the ninth, on the first pitch of the inning, Cags did it again. Smoking a homer to right field, his 4th of the series, second of the day and team leading 12th on the season. A 426-foot towering blast.
Salvy was hit by a pitch, Massey singled and it was 1st and 3rd, nobody out, with the tying run coming to the dish. Lane Thomas hit a high chopper to third, Blaze Jordan’s only play was at home, Salvy would make a nifty move and slide to avoid the tag. After a St. Louis challenge, Perez was still safe. 12-10, 1st and 2nd nobody out for the Royals. Misner laid down a good bunt, making it 2nd and 3rd with one out. John Rave pinch hit for Loftin, (which I didn’t like because Loftin has been good with RISP this season), and his struck out looking on a pitch that was inside, but the Royals were out of challenges. Collins grounded out to the pitcher on the first pitch to end the game.
Outside of Cruz giving up the three run homer, the bullpen of Seabold, Erceg, Strahm and Way were good. Shoutout to them.
The Royals drop the series finale and finish the year 3-3 vs St. Louis, they are 32-46 on the season. They are off to Tampa Bay for a four-game series starting tomorrow night. Michael Wacha gets the start; first pitch is set for 5:40 p.m. CT.
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