Royals do it again

Eric Hosmer #35 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates after scoring on a Salvador Perez single in the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Kauffman Stadium on June 27, 2016 in Kansas City, Missouri.

(June 27, 2016 - Source: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images North America)

The Kansas City Royals (40-35) once again pull away in an inning to beat the St. Louis Cardinals (39-36) 6-2 in game one of their two-game home series.

St. Louis took an early lead in the top of the first inning. SS Aledmys Diaz doubled with one out and DH Matt Holliday drove him in with his 15th home run of the season to put the Cardinals up 2-0.

Kansas City tied the game in the bottom of the frame. They loaded the bases with a two-out single from CF Lorenzo Cain, a walk to 1B Eric Hosmer and C Salvador Perez reached first base on a fielding error by 2B Matt Carpenter. DH Kendrys Morales followed with a single, driving home Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer.

In the second inning, the Royals pulled away as they took full advantage of SP Adam Wainwright’s command problems with the breaking ball.

SS Alcides Escobar led off with a single and advanced to third base on a one-out single by 2B Whit Merrifield. Lorenzo Cain hit a two-out single and drove in Alcides Escobar for a 3-2 lead. Whit Merrifield moved to third base on the play.

Eric Hosmer doubled next and two more runs (Lorenzo Cain and Whit Merrifield) scored. Salvador Perez followed with a single and Eric Hosmer came home for the final run of the game.

Adam Wainwright (6-5) pitched 5 innings, surrendering 10 hits, 1 walk and 6 earned runs while striking out 7. His ERA and WHIP increased to 5.04 and 1.36, respectively.

Kansas City’s SP Danny Duffy (3-1) worked 8 innings, allowing 6 hits and 2 earned runs while fanning 8. He now has a 3.24 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP on the season.

Eric Hosmer went 1-for-3 with 2 runs and 2 RBI. He is now batting .310 this season and has 42 runs, 12 HR and 48 RBI.