K.C. Royals Win 5-3,15 Inning Marathon Over St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals were one strike away from a win on Father's Day at Busch Stadium, but the Kansas City Royals had what turns out to be two good swings left. Billy Butler's two out, pinch home run in the 9th forced extra innings and the Royals went on to win the marathon 5-3 in 15 innings.
Yuniesky Betancourt's two out two run homer in the top of the 15th was the final blow in a game that featured missed squeeze plays, pitchers pinch hitting for pitchers, and each team scoring a run in the 14th to keep the game going. The announced attendance was 41,680 but many of those fans had already made it home or to dinner when the 5:00 game ended.
The Royals jumped out in front 1-0 in the 2nd inning on catcher Humberto Quintero's RBI single, and it stayed that way until the bottom of the 6th when St. Louis got back to back home runs off Royals starter Luis Mendoza to grab a 2-1 lead.
Cards starting pitcher Adam Wainwright allowed one run on five hits in seven innings, striking out eight, then reliever Mitchell Boggs worked a one-two-three 8th inning.
In the 9th, closer Jason Motte looked to be breezing, striking out both Mike Moustakas and Alcides Escobar. Butler then drove an 0-2 fastball from Motte over the left field wall to tie the game 2-2. It was his first career pinch hit home run, and Motte's fourth blown save of the season. After the Cardinals failed to score in the bottom half of the inning, it was on to extra frames.
The Royals grabbed a 3-2 lead in the top of the 14th on Betancourt's RBI double, but the Cardinals answered in the bottom of the ining when pinch hitter Yadier Molina singled to left field, scoring Allen Craig with the tying run. After Shane Robinson struck out, the game marched on to the 15th.
Betancourt was again the hero for the Royals in the 15th. After Jarrod Dyson beat out a bunt for a base hit, Brayan Pena sacrificed him to second. Alex Gordon flied out to Robinson in center before Betancourt's blast over the left field wall gave K.C. a 5-3 lead.
Royals closer Jonathan Broxton (1-1) retired the Cardinals in order in the bottom of the 15th to secure the win. Eduardo Sanchez (0-1), who allowed the game winning home run, took the loss.
The defeat drops the Cardinals to 34-33 on the season, five games behind the first place Cincinnati Reds in the National League Central.
The Cards will have a day off Monday before opening a three game series at Detroit. The Royals will take on the Astros Monday night in Houston.
Game Notes:
The 15 innings played Sunday tied for the second longest game by innings in the seven year history of Busch Stadium. St. Louis lost a 20 inning contest to the New York Mets in 2010, and beat the Los Angeles Dogers in a 15 inning affair in 2009.
The 5:00 game time is the fifth longest in Busch Stadium history as there were three 14 inning games that went longer.
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