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Boggs impressive as Cardinals down Royals

Jun 29, 2008 - 3:59 AM By Alan Eskew PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Rookie Mitchell Boggs helped the St. Louis Cardinals put an end to the Kansas City Royals' longest winning streak in five years.

Boggs tossed six-plus strong innings as the Cardinals snapped the Royals' six-game winning streak with a 5-1 victory on Saturday night.

It was Kansas City's longest such streak since beginning the 2003 season with a 9-0 record. The Kauffman Stadium crowd of 37,537 was the largest of the season.

"These guys were playing unbelievable the last two weeks, especially against us," Boggs said. "The fans love this rivalry and these guys have been getting the better of us. I knew it was going to be a challenge. The guys behind me played incredible, made some great plays. That allowed me to get into a little bit of a rhythm. I got some run support again.

"I was a little erratic the first couple of innings. I was fortunate to get out of that unscathed because anytime you walk guys to start innings, you're playing with fire. It was a good night."

Rick Ankiel hit a two-run homer, his 15th of the season, into the Royals bullpen in the sixth to give the Cardinals a 4-0 cushion.

"It was a fastball up and out over the plate," Royals starter Kyle Davies said. "It was the pitch I'd love to have back. It was a stupid mistake. I was throwing over to first too much, trying to keep (Skip) Schumaker close after he singled. I should have been concentrating more on the hitter."

Boggs is glad he does not have to face Ankiel.

"He could beat you so many ways," Boggs said. "He had a big one tonight. He's a tough guy to pitch to."

Boggs (3-0), who was making his fourth major league start after his June 6 promotion from Class AAA Memphis, allowed one run on four hits and four walks with six strikeouts over his longest career outing.

"He made a lot of effective pitches," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said of Boggs. "He's given us a terrific lift, winning three games in a row. He has good movement, he locates it, mixes in some off-speed stuff. He and Yadier (Molina) were on the same page. He shut down a club that was swinging really well. He was outstanding."

David DeJesus' two-out double in the fifth, which extended his hitting streak to 13 games, was the only extra-base hit Boggs allowed.

Boggs departed in the seventh with a 5-0 lead after walking Mark Teahen and allowing a single to Miguel Olivo, putting runners on the corners with no outs.

Ross Gload greeted St. Louis reliever Kyle McClellan with a run-producing single, but Olivo was thrown out at the plate when he attempted to score from first. It was the only hit McClellan allowed in two innings.

"That would have been a huge momentum for them," Boggs said of Olivo's scoring attempt. "The play itself was a momentum-killer. Yadier sat in there with the guy barreling down on him and made a great play."

Royals third base coach Luis Silverio waved Olivo home, but Brendan Ryan's relay throw beat him by several steps.

"If we had to do it over again, we probably would have held up," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "Luis does a great job. He was upset. That's a tough job and a tough call."

Davies (3-1) was betrayed by his defense as rookie shortstop Mike Aviles and catcher Olivo committed errors leading to unearned runs. Davies gave up five runs - three earned - on seven hits and two walks over 6 1/3 frames.

"The first three innings they were swinging at everything and I was getting quick outs and it was great," Davies said.

Aaron Miles, who had an infield single in the fourth to hike his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games, scored on Aviles' throwing error, which should have been an inning ending double play.

"From a momentum standpoint, you would like to think we make that double play," Hillman said. "Davies pitched much better than last time. Boggs was in command of a plus fastball, especially pitching inside. He located his breaking ball better than Kyle did. It made it kind of tough on us."

Olivo dropped a throw home in the seventh, permitting Ryan Ludwick to score. Ludwick led off the inning with a walk, stopped at second on Yadier Molina's single and advanced to third on a wild pitch.

The Cardinals' victory was their first this season in five games against the Royals, who share the best interleague record with the Minnesota Twins at 13-4.

"Boggs kept us off balance for the most part," said Royals center fielder Joey Gathright, who went 0-for-3. "We made our defensive mistakes. I made one of them, so you're going to have those games and tonight was our turn."