Royals Report: KC Finally Knocks Off Cards In 12

3) Whit Merrifield Gets The First Pinch Hit Of His Career

KC Royals manager Ned Yost left Whit Merrifield out of his lineup on Wednesday night after the rookie utility man had gone 2-14 with 8 strikeouts in his last three games. However, Yost inserted Merrifield in the lineup in the eighth inning when he pulled a double switch while sending Merrifield to the plate for pitcher Luke Hochevar.

Merrifield hit a seeing-eye single that skidded under the glove of Cardinals third baseman Jhonny Peralta to load the bases with one out in the 8th. The Kansas City Royals scored what appeared to be the winning run on Alcides Escobar‘s sacrifice fly, but closer Wade Davis blew only his second save of the season in the ninth.

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Merrifield came to the plate once again in the 10th inning with runners at the corners and hit a grounder up the middle that the Cardinals should have turned into an inning-ending double play. Instead, Matt Carpenter booted the ball, allowing Cheslor Cuthbert to put the KC Royals ahead 2-1. Though the play was ruled an error, Merrifield was yet again involved in the second Kansas City run.

Stephen PIscotty slammed a solo shot to dead center to tie the game once more at 2-2, which allowed Merrifield to come to the plate a third time in the 12th. Merrifield hit a one-out double off of reliever Seth Maness and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He then scored the winning run on Alcides Escobar’s RBI double.

In the end, Whit Merrifield ended up getting the first pinch hit of his career and going 2 for 3 while scoring one run and driving in another on a night he expected to spend on the bench.

Next: Cardinals Give Aways