KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Tyler Lyons couldnt seem to find any pitch that was working in the first inning Tuesday night. The next six? Just about everything was working. The St. Louis Cardinals rookie only allowed two hits against the Kansas City Royals scuffling offence, and the only run in the first inning. The result was a 4-1 win that kept Lyons perfect in his week-old big league career, and the Cardinals rolling as they head for home. "In the first inning, I was a little erratic with everything," he said. "Just trying to control that a little bit and get in the groove and figure out what was working and what wasnt. "Eventually, everything started working." By that point, Carlos Beltran had already belted a two-run homer to give Lyons the lead. Matt Carpenter and Matt Holliday added solo shots in the sixth inning, and the Cardinals improved to a major league-best 20-9 on the road before heading home for two against KC at Busch Stadium. The only two hits that Lyons (2-0) allowed were to Billy Butler -- an RBI double in the first inning and a bloop single in the seventh, which ended a streak of 17 straight betters set aside. "He was very good, and pitched different today. He had a little trouble at first finding his fastball, but he had his breaking ball going today and that kept them off balance," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "He made a good adjustment and found his fastball later." Trevor Rosenthal pitched the eighth inning in a driving rain for St. Louis, and Edward Mujica breezed through a perfect ninth for his 16th save of the season. "Just the life, the energy -- theyre enjoying showing up every day to play the game," Matheny said, "and you can tell theyre really lifting each other up." Things couldnt be more different in the opposing clubhouse. Kansas City has lost seven straight and 18 of its past 22, erasing a 17-10 start that had a beleaguered fan base finally starting to believe in something. The Royals 10 consecutive losses at Kauffman Stadium matches the franchise record set just last season. "What are you asking me to do? Take my belt off and spank them? Yell at them, scream at them? What do you want?" Royals manager Ned Yost asked. "Do we need to make changes? This cant continue. Somewhere down the road, were going to have to make some changes." Their offence has been the biggest culprit: Its produced eight runs total in the Royals past five games, and hasnt scored more than four in a game since May 21 at Houston. While the Cardinals had three homers Tuesday night, the Royals have that many in 14 games. "If pressure turns into panic, you have a problem," general manager Dayton Moore said prior to the game. "Right now, weve just got to deal with the pressure in a way that is professional and with the right mindset and just get through it." St. Louis got off to a carbon-copy start of the previous night, when Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer in the first inning from the No. 2 spot in the lineup. This time, it was Beltran who went deep off Santana to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead after just seven pitches. It was the first time the Cardinals got two-run shots from the No. 2 spot in the first inning in back-to-back games since 1998, when Ray Lankford hit both of them, according to STATS LLC. The Royals havent accomplished the same feat since Amos Otis went deep in consecutive games in 1976. The Royals got one run back right away when Alex Gordon drew a leadoff walk -- the Royals began the night with the third-fewest walks in the majors -- and Butler drove him in with a double to left. But that was the hardest-hit ball of the night by Kansas City, which set a season low for hits in a game. Lyons retired 17 in a row before Butler blooped his single down the right-field line with one out in the seventh inning, and then he left the Royals DH stranded on first base. "I mean, I knew there had to be a few," Lyons said of his streak of retired batters. "I wasnt sure how many there were, but I like not having to pitch out of the stretch, so that was good." Other than the home runs, Santana was nearly as effectively on the mound. The Royals right-hander went 14 consecutive batters without allowing anybody on base at one point, and he was aided by double plays in the first and seventh innings to limit the damage. Not even the best defence could keep the ball in the park, though. Santana allowed four homers to the Angels his last time out, and has allowed seven in his past two starts. "That happens. Im not trying to be perfect, just trying to make my pitch. If I miss, thats how it is," Santana said. "I have to change the page and get them next time." Notes: Molina got a rare night off. Hed played in 58 of the Cardinals first 60 games. ... Gordon was back in the leadoff spot for Kansas City. CF Lorenzo Cain batted third in the order for the first time. ... RHP Jeremy Guthrie will be on the mound for Kansas City on Wednesday. RHP Lance Lynn will pitch for the Cardinals. ... The game took 2 hours, 7 minutes to complete.Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. Soccer Jerseys China . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. https://www.soccerjerseyschina.us/ . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Stitched Soccer Jerseys . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. Fake Soccer Jerseys . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota.Tony Romo taking snaps. Joe Flacco hurling passes. Jordy Nelson and Keenan Allen catching them.Terrell Suggs and Cam Wake harassing opposing quarterbacks. Ryan Clady trying to prevent such things.Jamaal Charles running wild.It sure would be nice to see these stars on the field and not on injured reserve, where they wound up in 2015.As NFL teams head to training camp, nearly all of them have key players they desperately need to return to health. Heres a look at those most in need.BALTIMORE -- No team had its season ruined more by injuries than the Ravens. Along with Flacco and Suggs, they lost half-dozen regulars, including playmakers Steve Smith Sr. and Justin Forsett.Flacco, the 2013 Super Bowl MVP, played in 122 straight games, fifth-longest string for a quarterback in NFL history, before tearing his left ACL and MCL in November. He believes he is on pace to start the preseason.I wanted to be the guy who played 15, 16, 17 years and didnt miss a snap, Flacco said. I had to come to grips with it pretty quickly because it was my reality. That was the toughest part, not being able to be on the field with the guys for the last six games.Suggs wasnt on the field for almost the entire 2015 schedule. The six-time Pro Bowl linebacker tore his Achilles tendon in the opener at Denver.He has not been available to talk about his rehab, but coach John Harbaugh is optimistic Suggs will be ready for training camp.DALLAS -- Around Big D, folks fully believe Romos return to health will ensure the Cowboys return to the postseason. Hell likely need a similar recovery by receiver Dez Bryant -- and a vastly improved defense that includes the return of cornerback Orlando Scandrick -- for that to happen.But having Romo on hand instead of Brandon Weeden or Matt Cassel or Kellen Moore, well, need we say more?MIAMI -- After spending all those millions on DT Ndamukong Suh, Miamis defense ranked 25th overall, 28th against the run. It had 31 sacks; opponents had 45.And now, sacks leader Olivier Vernon is a Giant.That means Wake will need to, uh, wake up a unit that surrendered 44 touchdowns.dddddddddddd Hes coming off a torn left Achilles tendon that cost him nine games.Wake has averaged 10 sacks for his seven seasons and is a four-time Pro Bowler.Its another obstacle to overcome, he said. Ive been doing it my whole career. I wouldnt expect this to be any different.NEW YORK JETS -- Clady has never played a snap for the Jets, who gambled and traded for him after mainstay DBrickashaw Ferguson retired. They hope he can fill a massive hole at left tackle, something Clady has done exceptionally well for most of the seven pro seasons hes gotten onto the field.Last year wasnt one of them; Clady missed Denvers championship run with a torn left ACL sustained in May 2015. Two years before that, he managed to get into only two games before a Lisfranc foot injury sidelined him.He really is New Yorks only viable option at the important LT position.Im just going to answer them by getting on the field and playing, he said of those who question his ability to return to top form. I think I can do that.GREEN BAY -- It could be argued that no players recovery is more critical to his teams title chances than Packers wideout Nelson from a torn right ACL. Even with good health for Romo, Flacco, Suggs, Wake and Clady, their teams are dealing with many other issues.Not so much in Green Bay, which has the elements to be a solid contender in the NFC. If, that is, Nelson is back to supply Aaron Rodgers with a reliable threat all over the field in the passing game. Which, incidentally, will help boost the run game.I just need to make sure Im ready to go come the start of training camp and the regular season, Nelson said. Thats where Im trying to get to. I know where I need to be mentally and physically.If he gets there, Cheeseheads everywhere can breathe easier.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '
