ST. LOUIS — In an all-out RBI fest, the Kansas City Royals couldn’t quite hang with the St. Louis Cardinals, losing 10-7 on Saturday afternoon at Busch Stadium.
Starter Bruce Chen got rocked early, giving up a pair of two-run home runs in the first inning, one to left fielder Matt Holliday and the other to catcher Yadier Molina. Chen (5-6, 5.05 ERA) gave up six runs on seven hits in 1 2/3 innings. St. Louis had a 6-1 lead in the second inning.
Kansas City chipped away at the lead, and found themselves down 6-4 heading into the seventh. Third baseman Mike Moustakas hit his 10th HR of the year, a solo shot to right in the fourth inning. Moustakas finished the game with 4 RBI’s.
Royals reliever Roman Colon (4.91 ERA) bounced back from a rough debut on Friday night and gave up one hit in 3 scoreless innings on Saturday, fanning one and walking one.
Shortstop Alcides Escobar capped a three-run rally inning for KC, hitting a two-run RBI single in the seventh to put the Royals (28-35, 17-15 away) on top 7-6.
The Cardinals (34-32, 17-15 home) answered with a three-run rally of their own, and took a 9-7 lead heading into the eighth.
Cardinals closer Jason Motte (3-3, 3.34 ERA) earned his 14th save, surrendering one hit and striking out two. Royals lefty reliever Tim Collins (4-1, 2.59 ERA) earned the loss, giving up two runs on one hit in 1/3 inning.
Right-handed pitcher Luis Mendoza (2-3, 4.89 ERA) takes the hill against Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright (5-7, 4.75 ERA) for a game three rubber-match on Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium.
