The Royals will be without All-Star duo Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans in the short term. Both are on the 15-day injured list and will miss scheduled starts on a looming six-game road trip against the San Francisco Giants and red-hot Minnesota Twins.

Michael Wacha (3-4) got the start. He went five innings with one run, eight hits, zero walks and six strikeouts. Lucas Erceg (1-0) was credited with the win in 1.2 innings. The Cardinals got on the board first after an Alec Burleson solo home run to center field in the fourth inning.

Maikel Garcia delivered a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh inning, while Michael Wacha and four Kansas City relievers helped strand 13 St. Louis runners as the Royals avoided being swept by the visiting Cardinals with Sunday's 2-1 victory.