KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nolan Arenado homered and drove in four runs, helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Kansas City Royals 9-4 on Saturday night.
Paul Goldschmidt drove in three runs as the Cardinals earned their fifth straight win. Edmundo Sosa went 4 for 4, and Tommy Edman had two hits and two RBIs.
St. Louis broke it open when it scored four times with two out in the seventh. Goldschmidt hit a two-run single before Arenado went deep, sending a drive to left for his 24th homer.
Arenado also homered during the Cardinals’ 6-0 victory Friday night.
"We can do our offense a lot of different ways, but we like good baseball and being able to do it in many different ways,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “It was quality across the board.”
Jon Lester (4-6) got his first win since he was acquired in a trade with Washington on July 30. The left-hander permitted one run and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.
The 37-year-old Lester went 1-3 with a 6.04 ERA in his previous six starts.
“I’ve improved a lot,” Lester said. “I’m just kind of getting used to surroundings and feeling comfortable. It’s been really cool to be here with all these guys and now I can just focus on pitching.”
Kansas City right-hander Brad Keller (7-12) allowed four runs, three earned, and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.
The Cardinals put it away with three runs in the ninth against Greg Holland. Goldschmidt drove in Harrison Bader with a sacrifice fly, and Arenado added a two-run double.
“We took a good shot at trying to keep it where it is and trust our offense to do something when we make that change,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said.
The Royals started the scoring in the fourth when Michael A. Taylor singled in Andrew Benintendi. It was the first run for Kansas City in 16 innings.
The Cardinals responded with two in the fifth, capitalizing on an error by third baseman Emmanuel Rivera. Edman hit a two-run single.
STREAK BROKEN
Kansas City’s Whit Merrifield played in his 422nd consecutive game, breaking the franchise record previously held by Alcides Escobar. It’s the longest active streak in major league baseball, and he has played six different positions in that stretch.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: SS Paul DeJong (lower back tightness) was scratched. Sosa started in his place.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals send J.A. Happ (6-6, 6.34 ERA) to the mound for the series finale. Kris Bubic (3-5, 4.43 ERA) pitches for the Royals.
