Lopez key hit in 9th after long rain delay, KC tops Cards

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nicky Lopez hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning after a long rain delay and the Kansas City Royals averted a three-game sweep, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 6-5 on Sunday.

Dylan Carlson homered for St. Louis, which has lost four of six.

It was 5-all when Hanser Alberto began the Royals ninth with a single off closer Alex Reyes (5-5). Jarrod Dyson put down a bunt that first baseman Paul Goldschmidt threw wildly trying for a forceout, leaving runners at second and third before play was stopped for 2 hours, 10 minutes.

When the game resumed, Lopez delivered a one-out hit to right to break the tie.

Scott Barlow (4-3) got two outs for the win. Richard Lovelady recorded his first save with a perfect ninth.

St. Louis made it 5-all with a three-run rally in the eighth. Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado capped the comeback with RBI singles.

Jon Lester, in his second start for the Cardinals since coming over in a trade with Washington, gave up five runs on six hits over 5 1-3 innings. He surrendered five runs in the first inning of his initial start against Atlanta on Tuesday.

Michael A. Taylor hit an RBI single in the Roytals fourth and Salvador Perez pushed the lead to 3-1 with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Ryan O’Hearn’s pinch-hit single in the sixth put the Royals up 5-1.

Kansas City starter Kris Bubic allowed one run on four hits over 4 2/3 innings.

IRON MEN

Kansas City INFs Whit Merrifield and Carlos Santana are among five players, who have played in each of their team’s games this season. Toronto’s Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien and Atlanta’s Dansby Swanson round out the list.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Andrew Benintendi did not start for the fifth successive game due to a should injury suffered...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Lopez-key-hit-in-9th-after-long-rain-delay-KC-16373406.php