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In first start after suspension, Yordano Ventura struggles in Royals’ 8-4 loss to the Cardinals

In the hours before an 8-4 loss on Tuesday night, Yordano Ventura sat in a black chair in the corner of the Royals clubhouse. The room was nearly empty, and the scene was quiet and the audience was one — fellow right-hander Edinson Volquez.

As the two countrymen shared a brief conversation, a smile formed across Ventura's mouth. Moments later, he disappeared down a back hallway. Six hours later, the scene had devolved into something altogether different.

In his first start since serving an eight-game suspension, Ventura had allowed seven earned runs in 5 1/3 innings to the St.