Royals rally for 6-4 win over Cardinals in opener

Salvador Perez homered and added an RBI single as the visiting Kansas City Royals rallied past the St. Louis Cardinals 6-4 on Wednesday afternoon in the first half of a split doubleheader.

Garrett Hampson added a two-run double as the Royals erased a 3-0 deficit to earn their second straight victory.

Royals starting pitcher Alec Marsh (7-6) allowed three runs on three hits in six innings. He struck out eight batters and walked one.

James McArthur worked the ninth inning to earn his 16th save.

Alec Burleson hit a two-run homer, and Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt each hit solo shots for the Cardinals, who lost for just the third time in nine games.

Cardinals starter Andrew Pallante (4-4) allowed four runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five and did not issue a walk.

St. Louis struck first with Arenado's second-inning homer to take a 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals pushed their lead to 3-0 in the third inning when Pedro Pages walked and Burleson smacked his homer.

Pallante cruised through his first four innings while allowing just one baserunner, but the Royals broke through in the fifth to tie the game 3-3.

Hunter Renfroe led off with a ground-rule double down the right field line, then moved to third on Freddie Fermin's infield single. MJ Melendez followed with an RBI double. One out later, Hampson hit a two-run double. Hampson stole third base, but Pallante struck out Bobby Witt Jr. to end the outburst.

Perez's homer in the sixth inning put Kansas City up 4-3.

The Royals increased their lead to 6-3 off reliever Chris Roycroft in the eighth inning. Maikel Garcia led off with a single, raced to third on Witt's single and scored on Vinnie Pasquantino's sacrifice fly.

Witt moved up on a wild pitch and scored on Perez's single.

Goldschmidt hit a ninth-inning homer to make the final score 6-4.

--Field Level Media