MLB: St. Louis 5, Kansas City 0

The Cardinals won their fourth straight and moved within a game of Milwaukee for the lead in the National League Central. The Royals have lost three in a row.

Wellemeyer (4-4) gave up four hits and struck out three over six innings.

Trever Miller, Jason Motte and Kyle McClellan finished out the shutout by allowing one hit and striking out three the rest of the way.

Nick Stavinoha singled in two runs in the first inning, Tyler Greene had a solo shot in the seventh and Khalil Greene contributed a two-run single in the eighth.

Kyle Davies (2-3) took the loss, surrendering two runs on just three hits with seven strikeouts in six innings.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.