KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol adjusted his lineup Wednesday so that his top three producers this season were hitting 1-2-3. After Tommy Edman, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, moved up from No. 4, had batted in the first inning Wednesday, the Cardinals had three runs off Kansas City left-hander Kris Bubic.
Bubic walked both Edman and Goldschmidt, prompting activity in the bullpen, before Bubic laid in a 2-1 90.5 mph fastball to Arenado and Arenado did what he was paid to do with it. He took it over the left-field wall for his second homer and fourth hit in six career at-bats against Bubic.
After Albert Pujols lined out, Juan Yepez blooped a double to right for his first major-league hit and Bubic was replaced by right-hander Joel Payamps.