ST. LOUIS -- The Royals needed their veterans to step up in a big way. And that's exactly what happened on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium.
Right-hander Jason Hammel authored the Royals' best outing by a starter in nearly three weeks, tossing seven innings of one-run ball, and Salvador Perez and Alex Gordon each homered in a 5-1 win over the Cardinals in Game 2 of the I-70 Series. The Royals had lost three straight and eight of nine coming in.
Gordon's solo smash to center Hammel, who had given up 25 runs in his last four starts, scattered nine hits, walked none and struck out six.