Royals rating 4 runs in seventh to high Cardinals

Salvador Perez’s two-run home run capped a four-run rally as the Kansas City Royals beat the visiting St. Louis Cardinals, 8-3, earning a split of their two-game series.

Kyle Isbel hit a leadoff single to open the seventh inning, stole second and scored on Maikel Garcia’s RBI single to give the Royals a 3-2 lead.

Bobby Witt Jr. collected his first hit of the series, hitting an RBI triple off the top of the wall in center. One out later, Perez hit his 21st homer to right-center to push Kansas City’s lead to 6-2.

The Royals collected nine hits and six runs against three Cardinals relievers. Isbel’s eighth-inning RBI triple, his third hit, and Witt’s run-scoring single, his third RBI, added two insurance runs.

Kansas City starter Michael Wacha tossed seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks, striking out six to earn his 11th quality start.

Wacha (9-6), who pitched in 165 games for St. Louis over his first seven major league seasons, hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs since surrendering seven against the Texas Rangers on May 4.

Lucas Erceg got four outs to earn his fourth save, and first since coming to the Royals from the Oakland Athletics in a trade-deadline deal.

St. Louis opened a 2-0 lead in the second when Nolan Arenado reached on an infield hit and Paul Goldschmidt hit his 18th homer to straightaway center.

Willson Contreras’ throwing error led to Witt’s RBI groundout in the third, cutting the Royals’ deficit to 2-1.

Cardinals starter Andre Pallante allowed two runs — one earned — on three singles and four walks, striking out four in 5 2/3 innings. He exited with runners on the corners and two outs in the sixth, giving way to Ryan Fernandez (1-4), who surrendered a game-tying hit to Freddy Fermin.

The Royals, whose .303 average with runners in scoring position leads the majors, were 6-for-15 with RISP on Saturday.

Kansas City second baseman Michael Massey was scratched due to back tightness.

–Field Level Media