Royals salvage split of doubleheader with Cardinals 7-5

Maikel Garcia homered, doubled and scored three times, and the Kansas City Royals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5 in the second game of a day-night doubleheader on Thursday night.

Royals starter Cole Ragans pitched three innings in his return from the 15-day injured list with a left groin strain. He allowed five runs on five hits, struck out four and walked three.

Angel Zerpa (3-0) pitched three scoreless innings in relief, giving up one hit, one walk and striking out four. Carlos Estévez earned his 18th save in 21 tries.

Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore (3-5) was pulled after four-plus innings with fatigue-related issues. He allowed a season-high seven runs on eight hits.

The Cardinals rallied to take game one of the doubleheader 6-5 on Willson Contreras’ RBI single in the tenth.


(AP Photo Scott Kane)