Kansas City Royals Rally From Four-Run Deficit in Late Win

After starter James Shields surrendered a 2nd inning grand slam to Kolten Wong, the Kansas City Royals stormed back to defeat the Cardinals 8-7 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis Tuesday night.

The Royals got back in the game with a 6-run 5th inning, highlighted by Alex Gordon‘s 3-run home run (no. 6 on the season). Kansas City fell behind 7-6 before scoring single runs in the 8th and 9th innings to take the victory.

Kansas City pulled within 2 games of .500 at 28-30 with their 2-game sweep in St. Louis. The Royals are now 5 games behind division-leading Detroit in the American League Central.

On the Mound

James Shields had a rough start for the 2nd game in a row. Shields only lasted 5.1 innings, giving up 9 hits, 4 walks, 2 home runs, and allowing 7 runs to score (5 earned). However, for the second straight game, the Royals offense saved him from a loss by scoring 8 runs.

Shields gave up a grand slam to 2B Kolten Wong in the second. Shields held the Cardinals scoreless until the 5th inning when Mike Moustakas‘ error opened the door to two unearned St. Louis runs. St. Louis chased Shields in the 6th inning soon after Peter Bourjos hit a massive 428 ft solo shot to left.

The Kansas City bullpen picked up Shields with 3.2 innings of scoreless relief.

Aaron Crow stopped the damage in the 6th by getting the final two outs.

Newly promoted Wilking Rodriguez (in place of Louis Coleman) made his major-league debut in the 7th with a clean inning of relief.

Wade Davis came on in the 8th and ended up recording his 5th win (5-1) when the Royals scored in the 9th. He allowed 1 hit and notched 1 strikeout in his one scoreless inning.

Greg Holland entered in the 9th to record his American League leading 16th save. He slammed the door with two strikeouts and a fly out.

At the Plate

Alex Gordon was the big hitting hero, going 2-4, with a single, home run, 1 walk, 1 run scored, and 3 RBI’s. Gordon has been the team’s most consistent hitter on the season and has homered in his last two games.

James Shields helped himself out at the plate going 2-2 with a single, double, 1 run scored, and 1 RBI. Shields is hitting .400 on the year.

Alcides Escobar triggered the Royals 6-run 5th inning with a triple that drove in Mike Moustakas from second. Escobar was 2-4, with a single, triple, 1 run scored, and 2 RBI’s.

2B Omar Infante started the winning rally in the 9th with a 1-out double into the right field corner. Infante was 1-5 on the night with 1 run scored.

Eric Hosmer picked up Infante by slapping a single over SS Jhonny Peralta to drive in the winning run. Hosmer was 2-4, with 2 singles, 1 run scored and 1 RBI.

Overall, the Royals attack produced 13 hits, 2 walks and 5 extra-base hits.

This and That

Alcides Escobar bailed Shields out of a base-loaded situation in the 1st inning with an outstanding stop that led to an inning-ending double play.

However, the Royals defense also betrayed Shields when Mike Moustakas allowed Allen Craig to reach first on an error in the 5th. The mistake led to 2 unearned runs that tied the game at 6-6.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Alex Gordon gets our nod for his key 3-run home run that gave the Royals a brief 6-4 lead in the 5th inning. Gordon got on base three times with his home run, walk and single.

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• Billy Butler – 2
• Lorenzo Cain – 2
• Johnny Giavotella
• Wade Davis
• Norichika Aoki
• Salvador Perez – 2
• Jeremy Guthrie  – 5
• Jason Vargas – 5
• Alex Gordon – 6
• Bruce Chen
• James Shields – 5
• Yordano Ventura – 3
• Mike Moustakas
• Danny Duffy – 4
• Omar Infante – 2
• Mike Moustakas – 3
• Alcidese Escobar – 3
• Eric Hosmer – 6
• Michael Mariot
• Casey Coleman
• Danny Valencia
• Tim Collins

The Cardinals

Kolten Wong’s grand slam in the 2nd was St. Louis’ big blow of the game. The slam was also Wong’s only hit, going 1-5 with 1 run scored and 4 RBI’s. The slam was Wong’s 1st home run of the season—and the 1st of his career.

Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal took the loss when he gave up Kansas City’s 9th inning rally with the score tied 7-7.

Up Next

The series moves to Kansas City for two games after the Royals mini-sweep in St. Louis. Kansas City will send Jason Vargas (5-2, 3.39 ERA) to the mound against St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright (8-3, 2.32 ERA). Game time is 7:10 CST at Kauffman Stadium.

Box

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

2B: M Moustakas (9, off J Garcia); J Shields (1, off J Garcia); O Infante (6, off T Rosenthal).
3B: A Escobar (1, off J Garcia).
HR: A Gordon (6, off J Garcia, 5th inn, 2 on, 2 outs to Deep RF).
IBB: A Gordon (1, by T Rosenthal).
HBP: E Hosmer (2, by J Garcia).
TB: A Gordon 5; A Escobar 4; J Shields 3; E Hosmer 2; M Moustakas 2; O Infante 2; B Butler; S Perez; N Aoki.
GIDP: S Perez 2 (12).
RBI: A Gordon 3 (33); A Escobar 2 (20); J Shields (1); E Hosmer (24); N Aoki (12).
2-out RBI: A Gordon 3; A Escobar.
Team LOB: 6.
With RISP: 6 for 11.
Fielding
DP: 2. A Escobar-O Infante; A Escobar-O Infante-E Hosmer.
E: E Hosmer (5); M Moustakas (4).

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

2B: J Peralta 2 (14, 2 off J Shields).
HR: K Wong (1, off J Shields, 2nd inn, 3 on, 2 outs to Deep RF); P Bourjos (2, off J Shields, 6th inn, 0 on, 0 outs to Deep LF).
SF: O Taveras (1, off J Shields).
SH: M Carpenter (1, off J Shields).
TB: P Bourjos 4; J Peralta 4; K Wong 4; M Carpenter 2; J Garcia; A Craig; J Jay; O Taveras.
GIDP: Y Molina (6).
RBI: K Wong 4 (15); J Peralta (25); O Taveras (2); P Bourjos (8).
2-out RBI: K Wong 4; J Peralta.
Team LOB: 7.
With RISP: 3 for 12.
Fielding
DP: 2. M Carpenter-D Descalso-A Craig; M Carpenter-K Wong-A Craig.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table.

Balks: None.
WP: None.
HBP: J Garcia (2; E Hosmer).
IBB: T Rosenthal (3; A Gordon).
Pickoffs: None