Matt Carpenter celebrates his double in the 11th inning as Alcides Escobar looks on. (photo/MLB)
Third baseman Matt Carpenter doubled in the go-ahead run in the 11th inning, his fifth hit of the night, and the Cardinals added two more later in the inning on a single by Allen Craig as they beat the Royals for the first time in this four game series, 5-2 Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium.
Carpenter’s five hits were a career high to help the club try to rebound out of their recent offensive slump. The Cardinals finished with 12 hits.
Matt Carpenter singled in Mark Ellis in the second inning to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. Matt Holliday extended the lead to 2-0 in the seventh when Carpenter scored on his ground out.
Royals starter Jason Vargas held his own allowing just those two runs in eight innings, while allowing nine hits and two walks while striking out three. However, the two runs looked to be enough for Adam Wainwright to become the National League’s first nine-game winner.
Wainwright allowed two hits and two walks through the first eight innings and while the Royals didn’t have much offense, they stranded three of those four who reached base in scoring position.
Alex Gordon walked in the second and was left at third after Mike Moustakas lined out. Alcides Escobar singled to lead off the sixth and got to third with two outs before being left stranded and Gordon doubled in the seventh with one out and was left at second.
In the ninth, Mike Matheny left the game into the hands of his ace, but the Royals rallied. Eric Hosmer reached base on a drop third strike and Billy Butler singled, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Matheny then had to go to Trevor Rosenthal, who walked Gordon and gave up a run on Salvador Perez’ ground out. Lorenzo Cain singled in the tying run and with runners on first and second with one out, Moustakas struck out looking and Escobar lined out to force extra innings.
Sam Freeman picked up the win. Kelvin Herrera the loss and Pat Neshek the save.
