KANSAS CITY — The swing Dylan Carlson put on the slow-bending, 78-mph breaking ball in the eighth inning carried it just a few feet shy of history.
The Cardinals' rookie came up for his final at-bat of the evening a home run shy of the team's first cycle since 2005, when infielder and future KC Royal Gold Glove-winner Mark Grudzielanek had one at a ballpark that has been paved over for a village. He had a double and a triple in his first two at-bats, both against Royals starter Brady Singer, and he lashed a single to help the Cardinals push toward their 5-0 victory Tuesday night.