Royals Rout Cardinals 14-6; Bobby Witt Jr. Homers Before Exiting with Knee Injury

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit the first of Kansas City’s three home runs before leaving with a sore right knee, and the Royals exploded for a season-high 14 runs and 17 hits in a dominant 14-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night.

The Royals set the tone early, scoring seven runs in the second inning behind a club-record five doubles. Carter Jensen, Isaac Collins, Lane Thomas and Starling Marte each drove in a run with a double, and Salvador Perez started the inning with a two-bagger. Witt contributed an RBI single in the frame after his solo homer in the first.

Witt, a two-time All-Star, was removed for a pinch hitter in the fourth inning after making a sliding stop at shortstop in the top of the frame. He was attended to on the field by an athletic trainer and later diagnosed with a sore right knee. Jac Caglianone added a two-run homer in the fourth, his ninth of the season, and Nick Loftin doubled in two more runs. Perez launched his 10th home run in the sixth — his 137th at Kauffman Stadium, the most by any player in ballpark history.

Royals starter Noah Cameron (4-4) labored through five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits while throwing 108 pitches. Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore (3-4) took the loss, giving up seven runs (five earned) on seven hits over just 1 2/3 innings.

Kansas City will send right-hander Seth Lugo (2-4, 3.86 ERA) to the mound Friday for the second game of the series. Lugo returns after serving seven days on the concussion injured list following a line drive to the head last week. The Cardinals will counter with right-hander Michael McGreevy (3-5, 2.99 ERA).