The Cardinals continued their struggles against American League Central teams, losing to the Royals 7-5 in 10 innings.
St. Louis built a 5-3 lead after five innings but never scored again. The Royals’ unrelenting play produced runs in the sixth and the eight before adding two more in the tenth to put the game away. Matt Stairs’ sacrifice fly in the 10th gave the Royals the go-ahead run. Joey Gathright’s RBI double provided them with an insurance run.
Royals starter Brandon Duckworth pitched 4.2 innings giving up five runs – four earned – on 11 hits and striking out three before giving way to a bullpen that held the Cardinals scoreless the rest of the way.
The Cardinals threatened in the ninth, loading the bases with one out. But reliever Ambiorix Burgos entered the game and struck out Scott Spiezio and Aaron Miles to get out of the jam.
