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 Chris Young extended the Kansas City starters' scoreless inning
streak and designated hitter Kendrys Morales drove in all the runs
with two homers as the Royals downed the St. Louis Cardinals 5-0 on
Friday night.
Young (4-0), who lowered his ERA to 0.78, pitched six innings and
gave up six hits and two walks with two strikeouts to pick up the
victory.
"He wasn't as sharp as he's been, but they still couldn't score off
him," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Just his ability to get through
six innings scoreless was impressive."
Royals starters have not allowed a run in the past four games
spanning 26 innings.
The game matched the teams with the best records in their respective
leagues. The Royals have won four straight and at 27-14 have the
best record in the big leagues. The Cardinals have failed to score
in two straight games.
Morales and catcher Salvador Perez each had three hits for the
Royals.
Kansas City left-hander Franklin Morales and right-handers Ryan
Madson and Jason Frasor worked the final three innings to complete
the shutout.
Madson wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth. Frasor had
runners at second and third with one out in the ninth but struck out
designated hitter Matt Holliday and retired first baseman Matt Adams
to preserve the shutout.
Morales hit a three-run homer with two outs in the first inning and
blasted a two-run shot in the third, bringing his RBI total to an
American League-leading 37.
After shortstop Alcides Escobar walked and center fielder Lorenzo
Cain singled, Morales picked on a 2-2, 93 mph fastball from Lance
Lynn and drove it over the right-field wall, an estimated 404 feet.
Morales duplicated the feat in the third after Cain singled. Morales
ripped an 88 mph slider from Lynn over the Cardinals' bullpen,
estimated at 418 feet, to hoist the Royals' lead to 5-0.
"I made two mistakes," Lynn said. "Those balls they were fouling off
where they were making weak contact (early in the game) they started
putting them in play with weak contact."
It was Morales' 13th career two-homer game. His last previous one
came Sept. 5 against Texas while with the Seattle Mariners.
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"It's nice to have a guy you can count on in the middle of your
lineup," Yost said. "If you make a mistake, he can hit the ball a
long way as evidenced by tonight.
Young, who was making his fourth start after beginning the season in
the bullpen, gave up six singles and walked two in six innings, but
yielded no runs while stranding seven runners.
"I wasn't great tonight," Young said. "I wasn't as sharp as I would
like to be. They fouled off some tough pitches. I had to really
work. They made me work for everything.
"There were some hairy moments there and fortunately I was able to
get out of them."
The Cardinals stranded 13 runners.
"I don't think they were too happy with not putting something on the
board," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "Nobody wants
strikeouts and popups."
NOTES: Royals LHP Danny Duffy, who has a 13.03 ERA in his past three
starts, was scratched from his Saturday start with a sore shoulder.
RHP Edinson Volquez will move up a day and take Duffy's spot. ...
Royals LHP Jarson Vargas threw a 45-pitch, three-inning simulated
game. He is on the disabled list with a flexor strain. ... Whitey
Herzog, 83, who managed both the Royals and Cardinals, was given a
resounding ovation when introduced on the field before the game. ...
Cardinals RHP John Lackey, who starts Saturday, is 3-4 with a 3.54
ERA in 10 starts against the Royals. ... 2B Kolten Wong batted
leadoff for the Cards for only the sixth time. He singled and walked
twice.
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