Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright allowed his most hits in a start since September 2010 on Monday against the Royals, but he still pitched into the eighth inning for the third time in four starts.
Wainwright held the Royals to three runs over eight innings of work, as he worked around 12 hits. He succeeded in part by scattering 11 singles, allowing only one extra-base hit, a double.
Wainwright struck out five and needed just 104 pitches, throwing 74 of them for strikes. He lowered his ERA to 2.48, while raising his record to 7-3, in a 6-3 win.
Wainwright is set to make his next start Saturday against the Giants at home.