Steven Matz and three St. Louis Cardinals relievers combined to blank the visiting the Kansas City Royals 1-0 on five hits Monday.
Paul Goldschmidt hit a first-inning homer to account for the game’s only run.
This game was rescheduled game from April 13 due to inclement weather. The Cardinals concluded their eight-game homestand with a 4-4 record.
After allowing four runs on six hits in four innings against the New York Mets in his previous start, Matz (3-1) cruised through six scoreless innings. He allowed four hits, struck out four batters and walked nobody.
Kodi Whitley, Nick Wittgren and Giovanny Gallegos pitched a scoreless inning each for the Cardinals. Gallegos earned his fifth save.
Starter Zack Greinke (0-2) allowed one run on three hits in six innings for the Royals, who lost for the fourth game in a row and the ninth time in their last 11 games.
Goldschmidt put the Cardinals on the board with his second home run of the season into the seats in left field.
Edward Olivares hit a one-out double off Matz in the third inning, but Whit Merrifield flew out and Andrew Benintendi grounded out to strand him.
Matz allowed Carlos Santana’s one-out double in the fourth inning, but he struck out Hunter Dozier and got Bobby Witt Jr. to pop out to end the inning.
Michael A. Taylor kept the Royals within one run in the fifth inning by leaping at the wall in center field to rob Andrew Knizner of a solo homer.
Dylan Carlson hit a leadoff double for the Cardinals in the eighth inning against reliever Taylor Clarke. But Knizner grounded out and Brendan Donovan and Harrison Bader both struck out to leave him in scoring position.
The Cardinals and Royals will move down the highway for interleague games Tuesday and Wednesday in Kansas City.
–Field Level Media
