Royals no-hit Cardinals into 8th inning for 7-0 win

Josh Staumont and Mike Mayers came within six outs of the first combined perfect game in major league history before Nolan Arenado lined a leadoff single in the eighth inning of the Kansas City Royals’ 7-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday.

“You’re definitely aware of it,” Mayers said of a perfect game. “I tried to keep it business as usual. The goal was to throw up as many zeroes as you possibly can and that’s the mindset I stayed in.”

Staumont,, a 29-year-old right-hander, served as the opener in a planned bullpen game for the Royals. He made his first major league start in his 167th appearance and struck out two in a 1-2-3 inning, throwing 14 pitches.

“That was one of the most exciting moments for me of the year,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “For him to set the tone like that was unbelievable.”

Mayers, a 31-year-old left-hander who pitched for the Cardinals from 2016-19, made his third appearance for the Royals this season after eight starts at Triple-A Omaha. He retired 18 consecutive batters before Arenado lined a 1-0 slider to left on his 72nd pitch.

Willson Contreras followed with a single to center that stopped an 0 for 29 slide.

“I can’t say what I was thinking there,” Mayers said with a chuckle. “I made two very bad pitches in that inning and they’re good hitters. They made me pay for them.”

Taylor Clarke relieved and retired Brendan Donovan, Paul DeJong and Alex Burleson in order. Amir Garrett pitched a perfect ninth to finish a two-hitter and Kansas City’s second shutout this year.

St. Louis was shut out for the sixth time and has scored 13 runs in its last six games.

Kansas City had not shut out the Cardinals since May 22, 2015, and had not blanked them in St. Louis since June 2, 2014.

In the opener of a two-game series, the Royals tied their season high with 16 hits and stranded 14 runners, one shy of their high.




St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Tommy Edman is unable to catch a two-run home run by Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey during the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 29, 2023, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)