KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patience was more than just a virtue for the St. Louis Cardinals during a three-game visit to Kansas City.
It helped produce 41 hits, 30 runs and a three-game sweep of the Royals.
“Guys aren’t chasing many pitches out of the [strike] zone,” Cardinals Manager Mike Matheny said. “That’s kind of what’s going on here.”
The Cardinals got 17 hits and 11 runs on Friday and 16 hits and 8 runs on Saturday before completing their first sweep in Kansas City since 2009 with an 11-8 victory on Sunday.
The Cardinals drew nine walks on Sunday, six from starter Jonathan Sanchez and three from losing pitcher Tim Collins.
“When you set in to play these games, you want the opposition to beat you,” Royals Manager Ned Yost said. “When you are walking guys and making errors, you are actually beating yourself.”
Carlos Beltran had a three-run home run and Matt Holliday and Allen Craig each drove in two runs for the Cardinals.
Beltran put the Cardinals ahead in the first, lining Sanchez’s 0-2 pitch 389 feet over the fence for his 20th home run after Craig doubled and Holliday walked. Mike Moustakas had two home runs for the Royals while Jeff Francoeur had one.
In the second, Holiday hit an RBI double that advanced Craig to third, allowing him to make it 5-2 when Sanchez threw a wild pitch.
Collins (4-2) went 1 2/3 innings and was charged with 5 runs, 4 earned,on 3 hits and 3 walks.
MARLINS 9, BLUE JAYS 0
Mark Buehrle pitched effectively for seven innings to become the winningest pitcher in interleague play with25 victories, John Buck hit a three-run home run and host Miami beat Toronto.
TWINS 4, REDS 3
Josh Willingham hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning to lead Minnesota over host Cincinnati.
RED SOX 9, BRAVES 4
Cody Ross hit two home runs and drove in five runs to help host Boston beat Atlanta.
RAYS 3-7, PHILLIES 2-3
Brooks Conrad hit 2 two-run doubles off winless Cliff Lee (Benton, Arkansas Razorbacks) and Tampa Bay beat host Philadelphia to complete a doubleheader sweep. Lee (0-4) allowed 5 runs and 6 hits in 7 innings. In the opener, Carlos Pena hit a three run home run in the eighth inning.
RANGERS 4, ROCKIES 2
Matt Harrison worked five scoreless innings for his 10th victory, Leonys Martin had two extra-base hits for his first three RBI in the majors and host Texas beat Colorado.
YANKEES 6, METS 5
Robinson Cano hit a tie-breaking home run in the eighth inning and the New York Yankees beat R.A. Dickey and the host New York Mets.
ORIOLES 2, NATIONALS 1
Matt Wieters hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning as host Baltimore beat Washington.
ASTROS 7, INDIANS 1
Chris Johnson homered and drove in three runs to lead host Houston over Cleveland.
WHITE SOX 1, BREWERS 0
Pinch hitter Eduardo Escobar lined an RBI single in the 10th inning and host Chicago beat Milwaukee.
ANGELS 5, DODGERS 3
Mark Trumbo drove in a tie-breaking run in the seventh inning as the host Los Angeles Angels beat the Los Angeles Dodgers.
PADRES 2, MARINERS 0
Edinson Volquez took a shutout into the seventh inning and Alexi Amarista hit a two-run double as host San Diego beat Seattle.
ATHLETICS 4, GIANTS 2
Derek Norris hit a three-run shot with two outs in the ninth inning for his first major league home run to lead host Oakland over San Francisco.
National League DIAMONDBACKS 5, CUBS 1
Wade Miley pitched eight innings, Justin Upton had three RBI and host Arizona beat Chicago.
Sunday’s games INTERLEAGUE Tampa Bay 3-7, Philadelphia 2-3 Minnesota 4, Cincinnati 3 Miami 9, Toronto 0 Boston 9, Atlanta 4 Detroit 3, Pittsburgh 2 Baltimore 2, Washington 1 Houston 7, Cleveland 1 Chicago White Sox 1, Milwaukee 0, 10 innings St. Louis 11, Kansas City 8 LA Angels 5, LA Dodgers 3 Oakland 4, San Francisco 2 San Diego 2, Seattle 0 Arizona 5, Chicago Cubs 1 Texas 4, Colorado 2 NY Yankees 6, NY Mets 5 NATIONAL LEAGUE Arizona 5, Chicago Cubs 1
Sports, Pages 16 on 06/25/2012