Bobby Witt Jr. homers before leaving with knee issue as Royals rout Cardinals 14-6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit the first of three Kansas City home runs before departing with right knee soreness, and the Royals set a franchise record with five doubles in a six-run second inning on Thursday night, cruising to a 14-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Jac Caglianone and Salvador Perez also went deep for the Royals, who posted season highs in both runs and hits (17). Every starter in the top eight spots of the lineup drove in at least one run. Witt homered in the first inning and added an RBI single in the second, but was lifted for a pinch hitter in the fourth after making a diving play at shortstop in the top of the inning. The two-time All-Star was shaken up on the play and was examined on the field by a trainer. The Royals built a 7-2 lead in the second inning with five doubles — a club record for a single frame. Carter Jensen, Isaac Collins, Lane Thomas, and Starling Marte each chipped in an RBI double, and Perez started the rally with a double of his own. Caglianone crushed a two-run homer to left-center in the fourth, his ninth of the season, and Nick Loftin added a two-run double. Perez delivered his 10th home run of the year in the sixth, marking his 137th career homer at Kauffman Stadium — the most in the ballpark's history.