Salvador Perez drove in two runs with a homer and a single, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 6-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
Garrett Hampson drove in two runs with a double while Hunter Renfroe added two hits and a run scored for the Royals, who reached the 50-win mark.
Nolan Arenado, Alec Burleson and Paul Goldschmidt homered for the Cardinals, who jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
Alec Marsh (7-6) gave up three runs and three hits in six innings to earn the victory. He struck out eight and walked one. Marsh retired the last 11 batters he faced.
James McArthur earned his 16th save despite giving up a one-out solo home run to Goldschmidt and a two-out single to Arenado in the ninth inning.
Andre Pallante (4-4) pitched 6 1/3 innings, his longest outing this season. He took the loss, allowing four runs and six hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
Salvador Perez homered again and MJ Melendez added a solo shot in the nightcap to help the Kansas City Royals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-5 for a sweep of a day-night doubleheader Wednesday.
Michael Wacha (6-6) went five innings for the victory in the second game. He pitched seven seasons in St. Louis (2013-2019) and was the MVP of the 2013 NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This was his first start in St. Louis since leaving five years ago.
Lars Nootbaar homered for St. Louis in the second game to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the second.
Closer James McArthur picked up his 17th save of the season and second of the day. McArthur had not pitched over the previous six days and was ready for the two-game challenge.
Wacha gave up four runs on seven hits over over five innings. He had allowed two earned runs or fewer in his previous eight starts.
Kyle Isbel added a solo homer leading off the ninth for the Royals, who were playing their first day-night doubleheader since July 15, 2023.
Bobby Witt Jr. highlighted Kansas City’s a two-run outburst in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly.
St. Louis rookie Gordon Graceffo (0-1) allowed four hits and three runs over 3 1/3 innings in his first start and second big league appearance.
Nootbaar returned to the lineup on Monday after missing 36 games with an oblique strain.
Cardinals RHP Sonny Gray (9-5, 3.30) will open a four-game series at home against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
