Bubic doesn’t make it through the 2nd, Red Birds sweep I-70 series

Negative, it was never a close game. Positive, Salvy hits bomb #30

Tough start by Kris Bubic led to Cardinals cruising towards series sweep of the Royals

Bubic just never had it today from pitch number one. Tommy Edman led off the game with a single. Up next Paul Goldschmidt, lined a single to right with Edman running on the pitch, making it to third. Nolan Arenado then jammed a ball over second, scoring Edmond. After a line out to Whit, and a backwards K to Harrison Bader to get two quick outs and thinking Bubic could limit the damage to 1 run. Lars Nootbaar walked, loading the bases. The next batter was Jose Rondon who roped a double in the gap scoring two.

Before the Royals even came to bat, they trailed 3-0.

When they did come to bat, Whit led off with a single off of Cardinals starter J.A. Happ. But then it was quickly taken away by a Carlos Santana double play. Salvy flew out to the warning track to end the inning.

Bubic headed back to the mound, and sadly put himself back in trouble. Edman led the second off with a single that Emmanuel Rivera made a diving stop, but the ball trickled out of his glove. Goldschmidt then pulled a ball down the left-field line scoring Edman from first.

Arenado then did what the 6 time All-Star does and did in every game of this series; hit the ball into the seats. This two run home run extended the lead to 6-0 with no outs in the second inning. And just like you would expect, the next batter Tyler O’Neill got into the action himself hitting a solo home run to center.

After two more batters, Bubic’s day was complete with a line of 1.1 IP, 7 ER, 9 H, 1 K, 1 BB.

7-0 before our clean-up hitter even stepped to the plate.

Andrew Benintendi did start a small rally of our own with a leadoff single to right. Two quick outs to Taylor and Dozier occurred before Rivera singled, moving Benintendi to second. Nicky Lopez followed up with a full count walk. The rally was halted there with a fly out by Cam Gallagher.

Domingo Tapia, who finished the second for Bubic, had a 1-2-3 third inning. Big performance by Tapia whose line ended with 1.2 IP 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K.

Ervin Santana came in to pitch the fourth, fifth and sixth for the Royals. Just allowing two hits and no runs.

The fifth inning for the Royals was the third in which the leadoff batter got on base. Rivera started off the inning with a single. A wild pitch moved Rivera to second with no outs. Nicky Lopez then did his job moving Rivera to third on a grounder to second. Unfortunately the fun ended there with back-to-back fly outs by Gallagher and Merrifield.

The bullpen continued throwing well today with Wade Davis pitching a scoreless 7th and Jake Brentz doing the same in the 8th.

The Royals found a way to get on the board in the 8th started by a Santana double.

Salvy was next up and after he fouled off three straight pitches, he launched a ball that traveled 450 ft at 109.8 MPH into the fountains for his 30th HR of the year; the first time a Royals catcher has achieved the milestone. And just the 13th Royal to make it to the 30 mark in one season.

7-2 Cardinals.

Scott Barlow came on to end the bullpen train and he did so allowing no runs. 7.2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB work today by the bullpen.

McFarland closed out the game for the Cardinals completing the sweep.

Royals are back in action tomorrow night with the Houston Astros coming to town with the second best record in the American League.