Major League Baseball

Betancourt homers in 15th, Royals beat Cardinals

Published Jun. 18, 2012 12:50 a.m. ET

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Yuniesky Betancourt hit a two-run homer with two outs in the 15th inning, lifting the Kansas City Royals a 5-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

Betancourt had put the Royals ahead in the 14th with an RBI double but closer Jonathan Broxton (1-1) failed to hold the lead.

Down to their last strike in the ninth, pinch-hitter Billy Butler homered for the Royals to tie it.

Jarrod Dyson began 15th inning with a bunt single off St. Louis reliever Eduardo Sanchez (0-1). Dyson was sacrificed to second and, after an out, Betancourt hit an 0-1 pitch into the Royals' bullpen.

Alex Gordon opened the 14th with his fifth walk, tying the club record he set on July 30, 2008, at Oakland.

Yadier Molina, the last available St. Louis position player, had a pinch-hit RBI single in the 14th off Broxton to tie it 3-all. Broxton was perfect in the 15th for the victory.

A total of 43 players saw action in the 5-hour game. Both teams used all their position players.

Butler hit an 0-2 pitch from Jason Motte 438 feet over the Cardinals' bullpen in left to tie the game 2-2. The home run was Butler's 12th, but the first of his career as a pinch hitter. Motte has blown four saves in 18 chances.

Matt Holliday and Allen Craig hit back-to-back home runs for the Cardinals and Carlos Beltran extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a first-inning single. Beltran is batting .462 (18 for 39) during his streak.

Humberto Quintero drove in the Royals' other run with an RBI single in the second off Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright, who allowed one run in seven innings.

Royals starter Luis Mendoza was cruising with a 1-0 lead with one out in the sixth when Holliday hit a 434-foot drive to the bleachers in left-center. The homer was Holliday's second in two days and 12th overall. Two pitches later, Craig hit his eighth home run down the line in left, a 400-foot shot, to give the Cardinals a 2-1 advantage.

Mendoza lasted six innings, giving up two runs while striking out five and walking one.

NOTES: Umpire Kerwin Danley, who was treated for dehydration after working the plate Saturday, was on medical leave Sunday. He was replaced by Mike Estabrook. ... Royals second baseman Chris Getz left the game with a lower leg strain while trying to get to Beltran's first-inning single. ... Cardinals shortstop Rafael Furcal, mired in a 2-for-31 slump, was not in the starting lineup for the second time in three games. ... Mendoza has not won since May 13 (three starts). ... The homers by Holliday and Craig marked the sixth time the Cardinals have gone back-to-back.

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