The Cardinals Lost Their 37th Game

The Kansas City Royals needed 12 innings to dispose of the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday night as the defending champions won, 3-2.

Alcides Escobar drove in the Royals’ game-winning run in the top of the 12th, but both teams had scored in previous extra innings. Kansas City third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert reached home after Matt Carpenter flubbed Whit Merrifield’s ground ball in the top of the 10th, and Redbirds right fielder Stephen Piscotty retaliated with a solo home run in the bottom frame.

The final run came off Seth Maness. The reliever took the mound for the Cardinals in the 12th and gave up a double to Merrifield. After a wild pitch allowed Merrifield to take third, Escobar smacked a double down the line that officials ruled fair, and confirmed with replay.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny liked his team’s effort but acknowledged that the gaffes made them lose. From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

“Some mistakes ended up costing us,” manager Mike Matheny said. “Saw a lot of fight. Saw a lot of positives. But the negatives seemed to cost.”

The Cardinals are 40-37 and 15-22 at home. There’s always the next game!