St. Louis Cardinals vs Kansas City Royals Box Score on Aug 08, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 8, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Yadier Molina and Jedd Gyorko each homered and drove in three runs as the St. Louis Cardinals routed the Kansas City Royals 10-3 on Tuesday night.

The Cardinals won their fourth straight to improve to 57-56, the first time they've been above .500 since June 1. The Royals have lost seven of nine to fall to 57-55 and four games behind the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central.

Molina homered leading off the fourth and contributed a two-run single in a six-run fifth. Gyorko capped off the big inning with a three-run shot.

Randal Grichuk also homered for the Cardinals, who have scored 34 runs in their past three games.

Michael Wacha (9-4) was the benefactor of the offensive splurge. Wacha allowed three runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out five in six innings.

Jason Vargas (13-6) took the loss and is 1-3 in his past six starts. He has pitched five innings or less in five of those starts.

Matt Carpenter went 2 for 3 with an RBI double in a three-run seventh, was hit by a pitch and walked. He is hitting .463 with a .565 on-base percentage in 14 games at Kauffman Stadium.

Wacha, who was 5-1 with a 1.90 ERA in his previous seven starts, walked Eric Hosmer with one out in the fourth. Melky Cabrera dropped a single into center. After Mike Moustakas popped up to the shortstop, Jorge Bonifacio drew a walk to load the bases.

Cheslor Cuthbert, who was just activated from the disabled list, quickly cleared them, hitting Wacha's first offering off the base of the left-field wall and just fair for a double to make it 3-1.

Royals left-hander Jason Vargas, however, could not hold the lead for one inning and failed to survive the fifth. The Cardinals sent 10 men to the plate in the six-run inning.

Grichuk, the Cardinals' No. 9 hitter, led off with his 14th home run, hitting Vargas' second pitch out.

Vargas then hit Carpenter with a pitch and gave up an infield single to Tommy Pham. Jose Martinez walked on five pitches to load the bases. Molina drove in two runs with a single. Dexter Fowler's double advanced Molina to third and banished Vargas.

Mike Minor replaced Vargas and gave up a three-run homer to Gyorko on his fifth pitch, pushing the St. Louis lead to 7-3.

Molina got the Cardinals on the scoreboard first, leading off the fourth with a home run.

Vargas was charged with six runs on eight hits (two home runs) and three walks over 4 2/3 innings. He also had two wild pitches and a hit batter.

Vargas, an American League All-Star selection, has permitted nine runs and 12 hits, including three home runs, in 9 2/3 innings in his past two starts.

NOTES: Royals LF Alex Gordon was not in the lineup and will likely not start for several days. Gordon is hitting .199 with a .294 slugging percentage in 100 games. Manager Ned Yost is trying to find more offensive production, leading to the decision to bench Gordon. ... 3B Jedd Gyorko was back in the Cardinals' lineup after sitting out the past two games. He was dropped to seventh in the batting order. ... The Royals activated IF Cheslor Cuthbert off the disabled list and he started at third base. Cuthbert missed six weeks with a sprained left wrist. ... Rookie IF Ramon Torres, who hit .242 in 23 games, was optioned to Triple-A Omaha. ... Mike Moustakas, who is hampered by fluid on his right knee, was the Royals designated hitter. ... Royals RHP Trevor Cahill and Cardinals RHP Mike Leake are the probables Wednesday with the series continuing at Busch Stadium.