If the Royals wanted to make gains on their fanbase in Missouri, tonight’s game would not be one to show prospective converts.
After two-and-a-half quiet innings, the Cardinals strung together a two-out rally, recalling the Royals days of yore, getting back-to-back-to-back singles from Matt Carpenter, José Martínez, and Marcell Ozuna. The Ozuna single was augmented by a Jorge Soler boner in right, plating Carpenter. The Soler gaffe proved immaterial with the next batter, as Ian Kennedy left a 2-1 four-seamer just a little too much in the middle of the plate—as Ian the Red is wont to do—to rookie Tyler O’Neill.