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Preview: Royals (21-21) at Cardinals (29-16)
Analysis  ·  BT Movements  ·  Line Movements
Game: 3
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: June 17, 2012 2:15 PM EDT
  

It has not been pretty, but the St. Louis Cardinals have given themselves a chance to win consecutive series for the first time in six weeks.

The Cardinals look to build on their latest offensive outburst in Sunday's decisive series finale against the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium.

St. Louis (34-32) held on for victories of 1-0 and 5-3 in the final two of a three-game home set against the Chicago White Sox this week. After falling 3-2 to Kansas City on Friday, the Cardinals blew an early five-run lead but won 10-7 on Saturday.

The Cardinals opened their nine-game homestand by losing two of three to Cleveland.

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Matt Holliday and Yadier Molina each homered and combined for nine RBIs as St. Louis scored three times in the seventh inning to erase a 7-6 deficit Saturday.

"We got the win, that's all that matters, whoever comes through," Molina told the Cardinals' official website.

It was a much-needed effort for Holliday, who finished with four hits and five RBIs after starting the day mired in an 0-for-12 slump.

"It's been frustrating, my swing had been a little off,' said Holliday, who ended a 17-game drought without a homer. "I've just been trying to battle, trying to find a good groove. It is nice to see the results."

St. Louis hasn't won two straight series since taking two of three from Milwaukee and Pittsburgh April 27-May 3.

Adam Wainwright (5-7, 4.75 ERA) hopes for another positive performance when he takes the mound for the Cardinals on Sunday. Though the right-hander lost his last outing, he was encouraged after giving up two runs and striking out seven in seven innings of a 6-1 loss to the White Sox on Tuesday.

"I feel very comfortable on the mound,' said Wainwright, who has allowed three runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. "It's all kind of getting back into the swing of things.'

The right-hander is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA as a starter against the Royals, but he has not faced them since 2009.

Third baseman Mike Moustakas had three hits, including his 10th homer, and four RBIs on Saturday as the Royals (28-35) did not let their season high-tying four-game winning streak end without a fight.

"I was really proud of the offense, the way they stayed after it,' Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "Down 6-1, they just kept putting together good at_bats. We battled back and got the lead, but from the seventh inning on (our pitchers) just really struggled to command the ball.'

Facing St. Louis for the first time, Kansas City's Luis Mendoza (2-3, 4.89) looks to build on his best outing of the season when he makes his second straight start since moving out of the bullpen.

The right-hander took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, then finished by allowing one hit and one run over six innings to outpitch ex-Royal Zack Greinke while not factoring in the decision of a 2-1 win over Milwaukee on Tuesday.

Mendoza, who has made 11 appearances this season, is 1-2 with a 5.16 ERA in six starts.

With two hits and two RBIs on Saturday, Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar is batting .360 (9 for 25) with five RBIs in his last seven games. However, he is 2 for 13 versus Wainwright.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2013
The Associated Press
All Rights Reserved

 SERIES AT A GLANCE
GAME 1
Royals at Cardinals
Fri, Jun 15 Final 3 to 2
 Boxscores  •  Recaps
GAME 2
Royals at Cardinals
Sat, Jun 16 Final 7 to 10
 Boxscores  •  Recaps
GAME 3
Royals at Cardinals
Sun, Jun 17 Final 5 to 3
 Boxscores  •  Recaps

 CURRENT LAS VEGAS LINE
 Team  ML   RUN   O/U 
 KAN  +170   -130   8.5 
 STL  -190   +110   
LAS VEGAS LINE MOVEMENTS

 CURRENT SPORTSBOOK LINE
 Team  ML   RUN   O/U 
 KAN  +164   -130   8.5 
 STL  -184   +110   
OFFSHORE LINE MOVEMENTS

 BETTING TRENDS
 Team  ML   RUN   O/U 
 KAN  35%   11%   58% 
 STL  65%   89%   42% 
BT MOVEMENTS

 MLB HEAD TO HEAD
 Jun 16, 2012  Score  ATS Results 
  KAN 7 Over: 17 
  STL « 10 Cover: +100 
 Tools:   Boxscores  •  Recaps
 Jun 15, 2012  Score  ATS Results 
  KAN « 3 Cover: +158 
  STL 2 Under: 5 
 Tools:   Boxscores  •  Recaps

 MLB PREVIEWS
 Sunday, Jun 17
 
  •  Rockies at Tigers
1:05 PM EDT
  •  Phillies at Blue Jays
1:05 PM EDT
  •  Pirates at Indians
1:05 PM EDT
  •  Reds at Mets
1:10 PM EDT
  •  Orioles at Braves
1:35 PM EDT
  •  Yankees at Nationals
1:35 PM EDT
  •  Marlins at Rays
1:40 PM EDT
  •  Brewers at Twins
2:10 PM EDT
  •  Royals at Cardinals
2:15 PM EDT
  •  Astros at Rangers
3:05 PM EDT
  •  Diamondbacks at Angels
3:35 PM EDT
  •  Padres at Athletics
4:05 PM EDT
  •  Giants at Mariners
4:10 PM EDT
  •  White Sox at Dodgers
4:10 PM EDT
  •  Red Sox at Cubs
8:05 PM EDT
 
 
 
  
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