6 run 5th inning rally helps Royals beat Cardinals 10-7 in Jac Caglianone’s debut

By: David Solomon, The Associated Press Posted: 10:07 PM CDT Tuesday, Jun. 3, 2025

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nick Loftin homered to start a six-run fifth inning, Bobby Witt Jr. also homered and the Kansas City Royals erased a five-run deficit to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-7 on Tuesday night in the major league debut of top Royals' prospect Jac Caglianone.

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Caglianone, recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Monday, went hitless in five at bats.

Daniel Lynch IV, Steven Cruz (2-0), Angel Zerpa, John Schreiber and Taylor Clarke combined to pitch 5 1/3 innings of scoreless relief before Carlos Estévez pitched a scoreless ninth for his 17th save.

Kansas City Royals' Nick Loftin hits a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Vinnie Pasquantino hit a game-tying two-run double off Cardinals reliever Steven Matz (3-2), and Salvador Perez followed with an RBI single to give Kansas City an 8-7 fifth inning lead.

Loftin hit his first home run since last June 18 to start the rally. After Drew Waters, Kyle Isbel and Jonathan India singled, Witt hit a two-run single to right field to cut Kansas City’s deficit to 7-5 ending Cardinals starter Andre Pallante’s night.

Pallante allowed a career high-tying seven runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Alec Burleson hit a two-run home run to center field to cap off a five-run third inning and chase Michael Lorenzen (3-7) from the game after allowing seven runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Witt hit his seventh home run of the season to give Kansas City a 2-0 first inning lead.

Key moment

Caglianone stepped up to the plate for the first time to lead off the top of the second inning. He lined a 2-2 pitch to the warning track in right-center field where Victor Scott II ran 92 feet to rob him of his first career hit.

Key stat