Kansas City Royals infielder Nicky Lopez hit a game-winning single in the top of the 9th inning, just minutes after an-over 2 hour rain delay hit Busch Stadium, in a 6-5 victory for KC that avoided a three-game sweep against their cross-state rivals.
The Royals held a seemingly comfortable 5-2 going into the bottom of the 8th inning, but St. Louis rallied with three runs, highlighted by run-scoring hits by Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado.
Strong thunderstorms hammered St. Louis, causing a postponement of the game, in the top of the 9th inning, after Kansas City had put runners on second and third following a poor throw by Goldschmidt off of an attempted sacrifice bunt by Jarrod Dyson. Coming out the delays, Lopez drove in Hanser Alberto to give the Royals the one-run advantage.
Richard Lovelady pitched the ninth to earn his first save, locking in the win for Scott Barlow, who recorded two outs in the 8th inning to keep the game tied as skies threatened.
Earlier in the contest, Cardinals start Jon Lester went 5 1/3 innings, allowing five run on six hits. Michael A. Taylor had a fourth inning RBI single for the Royals, with Salvador Perez adding a 5th inning sacrifice fly. Kansas City starter Kris Bubic went the first 4 2/3 innings, allowing just one run on four hits. Ryan O’Hearn had a sixth inning RBI single, giving the Royals a 5-1 advantage.
The Royals return westward on Interstate 70 to Kauffman Stadium, to open a three-game series with the New York Yankees on Monday night. Carlos Hernandez (3-1, 4.58) starts for KC against Yankees right-hander Jameson Taillon (7-4, 4.04). The Cardinals take Monday night off and begin a three-game series in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. Newly-acquired lefty J.A. Happ will start the series opener for the Cardinals at PNC Park.
Here is the complete MLB scoreboard from Sunday, August 8, 2021:
LA Dodgers 8, LA Angels 2
Chicago White Sox 9, Chicago Cubs 3
Tampa Bay 9, Baltimore 6
Seattle 2, NY Yankees 0
Toronto 9, Boston 8
Cleveland 7, Detroit 5
Minnesota 7, Houston 5
Oakland 6, Texas 3
Philadelphia 3, NY Mets 0
Cincinnati 3, Pittsburgh 2
Atlanta 5, Washington 4
San Francisco 5, Milwaukee 4
Colorado 13, Miami 8
San Diego 2, Arizona 0
