<\/p>\n
Stephen Kolek allowed four hits while pitching into the seventh inning, and Salvador Perez drove in both runs, highlighted by a solo homer, as the visiting Kansas City Royals snapped their six-game losing streak with Sunday\u2019s 2-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.<\/p>\n
Kolek (2-0) walked just one batter and struck out three over 6 1\/3 strong innings to help the Royals end their extended slide and finish the 1-5 road trip on a needed positive note. Perez, meanwhile, had two of Kansas City\u2019s nine hits and provided the only offense needed by the visitors.<\/p>\n
Royals relievers Daniel Lynch IV and Lucas Erceg (11 saves) combined to allow one hit and a walk over 2 2\/3 innings.<\/p>\n
St. Louis\u2019 Andre Pallante (4-4) was also solid while allowing eight hits, but only the two runs, one earned, and striking out seven in 6 2\/3 innings. The Cardinals, who entered on a three-game winning streak, were limited to five singles and did not bat with a runner in scoring position until the ninth.<\/p>\n
Kansas City wasted no time opening the scoring. Maikel Garcia led off the game with a single up the middle, made it to third on Vinnie Pasquantino\u2019s single coupled with right-fielder Victor Scott III\u2019s throwing error and eventually came home via Perez\u2019s fly out to left.<\/p>\n
Perez put the Royals up by two in the fourth, when he led off the frame by sending Pallante\u2019s knuckle-curve ball over the left-field fence.<\/p>\n
Kansas City had an opportunity to add on when it loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the ninth. Then, Kyle Isbel, who recorded a pair of hits, struck out and Garcia bounced into a 5-3 double play to end the threat.<\/p>\n
Erceg, though, stranded a runner on second when he got Nathan Church to end the contest on a ground out.<\/p>\n
St. Louis shortstop Masyn Winn exited in the seventh inning with an apparent injury after beating out a potential double-play grounder.<\/p>\n