Royals playing for more than Missouri bragging rights vs. Cardinals

The Kansas City Royals are approaching desperation mode as they enter Sunday afternoon's finale of a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals on a six-game losing streak.

The visiting Royals have been in contention in the first two games of the I-70 Series, but an end to their slide continues to elude them. They lost 5-4 in 11 innings on Friday, 4-2 on Saturday, and are in last place in the American League Central.

After a sweep by the Chicago White Sox, the Royals are 0-5 on their six-game road trip.

Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said the team's effort on Saturday didn't match the results.

"I thought there were positives with the at-bats," Quatraro said. "We're going to give ourselves chances. That's the best you can do to start out, and then hopefully some of them fall in. But the approaches were pretty good."

The Royals scored a run on five hits and three walks in six innings off Cardinals starter Kyle Leahy but didn't manage a game-breaking hit, leaving the bases loaded in the second without scoring. A solo home run by Jac Caglianone in the ninth offered little consolation in another defeat.

Still, Quatraro said he knows -- positive signs aside -- that his team is going to need to turn this skid around in a hurry.

"Nobody wants to hear about encouragement. They want to hear about wins and losses and runs scored," he said. "It doesn't do us any good to talk about that, other than there's no choice but to keep pushing forward."

Right-hander Stephen Kolek (1-0, 6.75 ERA) is scheduled to start for Kansas City on Sunday.

Kolek, 29, was part of the trade that sent catcher Freddy Fermin from the Royals to the San Diego Padres last July. Kolek took a no-decision in his most recent start on Tuesday, when he allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings in a 6-5 to the White Sox.

Kolek is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA against St Louis in two career appearances (one start).

The Cardinals will start Andre Pallante (4-3, 4.46 ERA) on Sunday. The 27-year-old right-hander has decisions in his past six starts and is 3-3, as he has alternated wins and losses.

His most recent start was a win when he gave up three runs on four hits and three walks in five innings of the Cardinals' 6-4 victory over the Athletics on Tuesday. In his two May starts -- the first was a 6-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers -- he has allowed eight runs in 11 innings.

He is 1-1 all-time vs. the Royals, with a 5.68 ERA in five appearances (four starts).

St. Louis got a big offensive contribution Saturday from No. 9 hitter Victor Scott II, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

The 25-year-old center fielder, a Gold Glove finalist last season, is known for his defensive prowess, but manager Oliver Marmol said Scott is working to improve offensively.

In 234 career games, he has a .204 batting average but is hitting only .193 this season.

"He's been working hard at a couple things, physically and mentally," Marmol said. "Aand it's good to see some of the contact we've been seeing as of late -- even the ones that aren't falling in for him. The approach and the overall swing is where we want it."

--Field Level Media