The game was essentially decided before the third inning began. St. Louis scored 5 runs in the first and 4 more in the second, building a cushion large enough to absorb everything Kansas City threw back at them in a 12-10 Cardinals victory Sunday at Kauffman Stadium.
JJ Wetherholt was the engine of that early burst. He went 3-for-5 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI, carrying a .268 average and now at 12 home runs and 34 RBI on the season. Wetherholt opened the scoring with a solo shot to right center in the first, then added a two-run homer to left in the second. Ivan Herrera matched that energy, going 3-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBI, while Masyn Winn contributed a three-run homer to left in the first inning that pushed the lead to 5-0. Alec Burleson added 3 hits and an RBI, and Lars Nootbaar drove in a run with a double to center.
The Cardinals' first-inning damage was swift. Wetherholt's leadoff homer gave St. Louis the lead it would never relinquish. Lars Nootbaar's double scored Herrera to make it 2-0, and then Winn's three-run homer to left — 410 feet — cleared the bases and put St. Louis ahead 5-0. Kansas City answered when Michael Massey singled to right, scoring Jensen and Caglianone to cut the deficit to 5-2. The second inning brought more of the same: Wetherholt's two-run homer extended the lead to 7-2, Burleson tripled home Herrera, and Winn reached on an infield single to score Burleson, pushing it to 9-2. KC fought back with a two-run homer from Nick Loftin and a two-run shot from Jac Caglianone to make it 9-6 after two. Herrera's three-run homer to left center in the fifth — 414 feet — restored a five-run cushion at 12-7, and that proved to be the final margin of comfort. Kansas City's Carter Jensen homered in the sixth, Caglianone added another solo shot in the ninth, and Perez scored on a fielder's choice in the ninth to make it 12-10, but the Cardinals held on.
Kansas City starter Stephen Kolek lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing 9 runs on 9 hits with 1 walk and 49 pitches. He fell to 4-2 with a 4.15 ERA. Gordon Graceffo picked up the win for St. Louis, pitching 1.0 scoreless inning to improve to 5-1.
Jac Caglianone was the bright spot for Kansas City, going 2-for-3 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI to go with 2 walks — his 12th and 13th home runs of the season. The Royals have now won three straight and sit at 32-45. St. Louis, despite the win, has dropped three in a row and stands at 40-34.