Friday 29th March 2024

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Paul DeJong drove in three runs in his second game back from battling COVID-19 and Jack Flaherty tossed five shutout innings to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Kansas City Royals 9-3 Monday.

Paul Goldschmidt homered and also drove in three for the Cardinals, who have won four of five.

Brad Miller had three hits and reached base four times for St. Louis, which has won 12 of the last 15 games between the cross-state rivals.

Flaherty (2-0), in just his second start in 30 days, allowed one hit in a 64-pitch effort. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.

”He made it look easy,” St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said.

The Cardinals were off 17 days earlier this season after the team was struck by a virus outbreak. St. Louis is 8-5 since the extended break.

”We all try and do our jobs and let the results be what they are,” Goldschmidt said. ”We have to keep it going.”

Brad Keller (3-1) had not permitted run in his first three starts this season, covering 17-2/3 innings. That string was halted by DeJong’s sacrifice fly in the first.

Keller left in the fifth after giving up three singles and a walk to begin the inning.

”Obviously, I didn’t have my best stuff,” Keller said. ”Every at-bat was a battle.”

Reliever Greg Holland allowed two-run doubles by DeJong and Dexter Fowler that made it 6-0.

Jorge Soler hit his seventh homer of the season for the Royals, a three-run shot in the sixth inning off Alex Reyes.

Kansas City has lost four of five.

UP NEXT

Kansas City RHP Matt Harvey (0-1, 9.00) will face RHP Adam Wainwright (2-0, 2.00) in the second of a three-game series on Tuesday. Pregame begins at 6:30, with game time at 7:15. You can hear the broadcast from the Royals’ Radio Network on KMMO FM 102.9.