Surging Cardinals nip flailing Royals 1-0

Jordan Walker homered and Miles Mikolas pitched six sharp innings to lead the surging St. Louis Cardinals past the Kansas City Royals 1-0 on Saturday night.

Mikolas (3-2) allowed two hits with four strikeouts and two walks for the Cardinals, who have won three straight and 12 of 13. St. Louis is 7-1 on a nine-game trip to three cities, winning all three series. They're hot on the heels of the division-leading Chicago Cubs, just one game back.

Walker connected leading off sixth. Iván Herrera’s two-out single in the fifth was the only other hit for the Cardinals.

Kyle Leahy permitted two hits in two innings of relief and Ryan Helsley finished the four-hitter for his ninth save.

Cardinals LHP Matthew Liberatore (3-3, 3.11 ERA) faces RHP Michael Wacha (3-4, 2.96) in the series finale Sunday.


(AP Photo Charlie Reidel)