The Kansas City Royals complete the sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals … at Busch Stadium … winning 4-1 this afternoon to take all three games of the first of two I-70 series in 2008. Mark Teahen was the hitting hero on the day, driving in 3 runs on 3 hits, including a 2 run homer in the 9th inning.
The Royals jumped out to a 2-0 lead with three straight hits in the 4th inning. Jose Guillen got it started with a single and scored on Mark Grudzielanek’s double to the wall. Grudzielanek then came home on Mark Teahen’s single.
St. Louis got on the board in the bottom of the 4th, when Rick Ankiel smacked his 11th home run of the season, a solo shot for the Redbirds’ first hit of the day off KC starter and eventual winner Zack Greinke.
Teahen gave the Royals the insurance they would need in the top of the 9th with his two-run homer to right field.
Greinke (6-4) went 7 innings, allowing only the 1 run on 2 hits while striking out 7. St. Louis starter Brad Thompson (1-2) pitched a fine game, allowing only 2 earned runs on 5 hits in 5 innings, but didn’t get much support and took the loss. Joaquim Soria earned his 18th save.
The Royals head home to open a weekend series, tomorrow night, against San Francisco. Luke Hochevar (4-5) takes to the mound for the Royals against the Giants’ Matt Cain (3-5)
The Redbirds head to Fenway Park in Boston for a weekend series with the Red Sox. Kyle Lohse (8-2) takes on Tim Wakefield (4-4) in the series opener tomorrow night.