Cardinals pip Royals in clash of top teams

Lackey pitched seven strong innings after a shaky beginning

st. louis — St Louis’ John Lackey pitched seven strong innings after a shaky beginning to guide the Cardinals to a 4-3 win against Kansas City in Thursday’s clash of neighbouring rivals and the top teams from the National and American Leagues.

The victory kept the Cardinals six games clear of nearest rival Pittsburgh, who beat Washington in another match-up of leading playoff aspirants.

Los Angeles’ Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw pitched a shutout against the New York Mets in the opener of another key series, while Minnesota ended the Los Angeles Angels’ seven-game winning streak.

The Cardinals-Royals game was the makeup of a rainout last month. As in the originally scheduled game, both teams led their league in wins and Lackey (9-5) and Chris Young (8-6) were the scheduled starters.

Lakcey gave up consecutive scoring singles in the first inning but ultimately took the win. He is 5-1 with a 1.75 ERA in his past eight starts, working seven or more innings in all but one of them.

St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal took over in the ninth with a 4-2 lead but allowed runners onto second and third base before recording his first out. He escaped that jam to record his 30th save of the season, with Mike Moutsakas grounding out to end it.

Randal Grichuk and Matt Carpenter hit two-run homers for the Cardinals.

Pittsburgh’s Francisco Liriano pitched six-plus dominant innings to steer the Pirates past Washington 7-3.

Liriano (6-6) struck out 11 as the Pirates returned from a miserable post-All-Star-break road trip to drop the NL East-leading Nationals.

Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and Francisco Cervelli homered for Pittsburgh, which ended a seven-game losing streak to Washington.

Dodgers ace Kershaw retired the first 18 batters in his second shutout of the season as Los Angeles beat the Mets 3-0.

Kershaw (8-6) now has thrown 29 consecutive scoreless innings and notched his 11th career shutout. He was on track for a perfect game until giving up a single to start the seventh inning.

The worst-hitting team in the majors was all but helpless against the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Kershaw struck out 11 and did not walk a batter. He has fanned 38 without a walk in his past three outings. —

Games, Cards have steered clear of Pittsburg