Sunday’s Game Report: Royals 2, Cardinals 0
By Rob Rains
There wasn’t anything the shirtless brigade of fans seated down the right field line could do to help the Cardinals score a run on Sunday against the Royals.
No matter how much they yelled, or how many times they waved their shirts above their heads as part of the biggest crowd at Busch Stadium since opening day – an announced attendance of 38,051 – they really had very little to get excited about.
The Cardinals were limited to five singles, hit into 18 groundball outs, did not have more than one runner on base in an inning and didn’t even get a runner to second base until there were two outs in the ninth inning, and that was only because of defensive indifference.
It was the second time this season the Cardinal were shut out, the first since the seventh game of the season, a 4-0 loss to the Tigers in Detroit.
It also was the third shutout ever by the Royals in 62 games in St. Louis since interleague play began in 1998, the others coming in 2014 and 2023. After winning the first two games of the series, the Cardinals fell short of sweeping the three-game series, something they have not done against the Royals in St. Louis since 2002.
Shortstop Masyn Winn came out of the game in the seventh inning for a pinch-runner because of discomfort in his left knee. His status was said to be day-to-day.
Here is how Sunday’s game broke down:
At the plate: Despite their limited offense, the Cardinals did get the potential tying run to the plate in each of the last three innings. In the seventh, Nolan Gorman had a leadoff single but Winn hit into a force out, Nathan Church flew out and Thomas Saggese hit into another force out. In the eighth, Ivan Herrera singled with two outs but Alec Burleson flew out. In the ninth, Gorman walked with one out but was left at second when Cesar Prieto flew out and Church grounded out.
On the mound: Andre Pallante became the first starter to work more than six innings in a game this season for the Cardinals, getting two outs in the seventh. He gave up both Kansas City runs on a sacrifice fly and a home run from Salvador Perez; the eighth career homer for Perez at Busch Stadium in 23 games. Pallante allowed eight hits, did not walk a batter and struck out seven … Matt Pushard, just activated from an injury rehab on Saturday, escaped a bases-loaded, no out jam in the ninth with a strikeout and a double play.
Key stat: The Royals stole one base off Herrera, giving opponents 10 stolen bases in as many attempts this season with Herrera catching. Herrera has not thrown out a runner trying to steal since Sept. 1, 2024 and has now allowed 32 consecutive stolen bases.
Worth noting: Church got the start in right field with Jordan Walker serving as the DH and turned in another highlight-reel catch, robbing Bobby Witt Jr. of an extra-base hit in the third inning … In the second game of his rehab assignment in Palm Beach, Lars Nootbaar singled and struck out in two at-bats. He came out of the game after playing five innings in left field … At Memphis, Joshua Baez hit his 11th home run of the season and fourth in his last six games while for Peoria, Won-Bin Cho also hit his fourth homer in a six-game span, his seventh of the season.
Up next: The Cardinals will have the day off on Monday before hosting the Pirates for three games beginning Tuesday night. Paul Skenes will not pitch in the series. It’s the first of 12 consecutive games against NL Central opponents.
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