Kolten Wong drew a bases-loaded walk to cap off a four-run rally in the ninth inning that lifted the St. Louis Cardinals over the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Wednesday night.
Tyler O’Neill tied the game at 5 with a two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded off the glove of third baseman Maikel Franco.
Wong coaxed a five-pitch walk off Randy Rosario (0-1).
Alex Reyes (1-0) got the victory.
St. Louis outfielder Dexter Fowler and pitcher Jack Flaherty opted to sit out the game in solidarity with other players around the league in protest of the shooting in Kenosha, Wiscoinsin.
Shildt said he talked to the two players and they indicated they will return for Thursday’s game.
St. Louis starter Dakota Hudson allowed two runs on three hits over six innings. He retired the last 10 batters he faced.
Kansas City starter Jakob Junis gave up two runs and four hits over 3 2/3 innings in first start since Aug. 7. He struck out six and walked one.
Junis had been slowed by back spasms and came off the 10-day injury list prior to the contest.
RHP Carlos Martinez will pitch to teammates at the Cardinals alternate site in Springfield, Missouri on Friday. He has missed the last 15 games.
LHP Kwang Hyun Kim (1-0, 1.69) will start against Pittsburgh RHP Chad Kuhl (1-1, 2.84) in the first game of a doubleheader in St. Louis.
RHP Johan Oviedo (0-0, 3.60) will start the second game for St. Louis, 1:20 with the pregame, first pitch 2:15 on KIRX.
The first place Cubs lead second place St. Louis by two games in the NL Central.