Sports – Monday, August 14th, 2017

Knuckleballing R.A. Dickey scattered seven hits over seven solid innings Sunday as the Atlanta Braves snapped St. Louis’ eight-game winning streak with a 6-3 decision at Busch Stadium. Brandon Phillips slugged a two-run homer in the fifth, his 10th of the year, that help provide the difference the Cardinals could not overcome. The Cardinals (61-57) put a scare into Atlanta in the eighth. Paul DeJong blasted a solo homer to left-center, followed by three straight singles. The last of those, Wong’s grounder into right, scored Jose Martinez but it wasn’t enough. Michael Wacha started for St. Louis and went five innings and allowed eight hits and four runs walking one and striking out one. The Cardinals will be off today before starting a two game series in Boston.

Whit Merrifield and Jorge Bonifacio homered to lead the Kansas City Royals in a 14-6 rout of the Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon. Merrifield drove in five runs and No. 9 batter Drew Butera had a career-high four hits for the Royals, who won two straight to take the three-game series against Chicago following a five-game losing streak. Royals’ left-hander Jason Vargas (14-6) allowed three runs, struck out seven and walked two in six innings to match his career high for victories in a season. He also won 14 games in 2012 with Seattle. Vargas was 1-3 with a 6.94 ERA in five starts since the All-Star break. Royals pitcher Jake Junis (4-2, 4.70 ERA) is expected to start tonight against Oakland.