Royals Clinch Season with Victory Over Cardinals

In a decisive performance, Bobby Witt Jr. drove in three runs while Michael Wacha struck out six batters over seven innings, leading the Kansas City Royals to an 8-3 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night. This win marked a significant milestone for the Royals, as it clinched their season for the first time since 2016. Wacha, improving his record to 9-6, allowed two runs on five hits and issued two walks, while Lucas Erceg secured his fourth save of the season. The game saw a pivotal moment in the seventh inning when Garcia put the Royals ahead 3-2. Kyle Isbel later contributed an insurance run in the eighth with an RBI triple. Despite a strong start from the Cardinals, highlighted by Paul Goldschmidt's impressive 430-foot, two-run home run—his 18th of the season—the team struggled with runners in scoring position, finishing 1 for 8 in those situations. Ryan Fernandez, who took the loss in relief, fell to 1-4. In roster news, the Royals placed right-handed pitcher Hunter Harvey on the 15-day injured list due to mid-back tightness, retroactive to August 7, and recalled Carlos Hernandez. Looking ahead, the Cardinals will travel to Cincinnati for a three-game series starting Monday, with Sonny Gray set to pitch. Meanwhile, the Royals will head to Minnesota, where Brady Singer is scheduled to take the mound.