KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Tyler Lyons couldnt seem to find any pitch that was working in the first inning Tuesday night. The next six? Just about everything was working. The St. Louis Cardinals rookie only allowed two hits against the Kansas City Royals scuffling offence, and the only run in the first inning. The result was a 4-1 win that kept Lyons perfect in his week-old big league career, and the Cardinals rolling as they head for home. "In the first inning, I was a little erratic with everything," he said. "Just trying to control that a little bit and get in the groove and figure out what was working and what wasnt. "Eventually, everything started working." By that point, Carlos Beltran had already belted a two-run homer to give Lyons the lead. Matt Carpenter and Matt Holliday added solo shots in the sixth inning, and the Cardinals improved to a major league-best 20-9 on the road before heading home for two against KC at Busch Stadium. The only two hits that Lyons (2-0) allowed were to Billy Butler -- an RBI double in the first inning and a bloop single in the seventh, which ended a streak of 17 straight betters set aside. "He was very good, and pitched different today. He had a little trouble at first finding his fastball, but he had his breaking ball going today and that kept them off balance," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "He made a good adjustment and found his fastball later." Trevor Rosenthal pitched the eighth inning in a driving rain for St. Louis, and Edward Mujica breezed through a perfect ninth for his 16th save of the season. "Just the life, the energy -- theyre enjoying showing up every day to play the game," Matheny said, "and you can tell theyre really lifting each other up." Things couldnt be more different in the opposing clubhouse. Kansas City has lost seven straight and 18 of its past 22, erasing a 17-10 start that had a beleaguered fan base finally starting to believe in something. The Royals 10 consecutive losses at Kauffman Stadium matches the franchise record set just last season. "What are you asking me to do? Take my belt off and spank them? Yell at them, scream at them? What do you want?" Royals manager Ned Yost asked. "Do we need to make changes? This cant continue. Somewhere down the road, were going to have to make some changes." Their offence has been the biggest culprit: Its produced eight runs total in the Royals past five games, and hasnt scored more than four in a game since May 21 at Houston. While the Cardinals had three homers Tuesday night, the Royals have that many in 14 games. "If pressure turns into panic, you have a problem," general manager Dayton Moore said prior to the game. "Right now, weve just got to deal with the pressure in a way that is professional and with the right mindset and just get through it." St. Louis got off to a carbon-copy start of the previous night, when Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer in the first inning from the No. 2 spot in the lineup. This time, it was Beltran who went deep off Santana to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead after just seven pitches. It was the first time the Cardinals got two-run shots from the No. 2 spot in the first inning in back-to-back games since 1998, when Ray Lankford hit both of them, according to STATS LLC. The Royals havent accomplished the same feat since Amos Otis went deep in consecutive games in 1976. The Royals got one run back right away when Alex Gordon drew a leadoff walk -- the Royals began the night with the third-fewest walks in the majors -- and Butler drove him in with a double to left. But that was the hardest-hit ball of the night by Kansas City, which set a season low for hits in a game. Lyons retired 17 in a row before Butler blooped his single down the right-field line with one out in the seventh inning, and then he left the Royals DH stranded on first base. "I mean, I knew there had to be a few," Lyons said of his streak of retired batters. "I wasnt sure how many there were, but I like not having to pitch out of the stretch, so that was good." Other than the home runs, Santana was nearly as effectively on the mound. The Royals right-hander went 14 consecutive batters without allowing anybody on base at one point, and he was aided by double plays in the first and seventh innings to limit the damage. Not even the best defence could keep the ball in the park, though. Santana allowed four homers to the Angels his last time out, and has allowed seven in his past two starts. "That happens. Im not trying to be perfect, just trying to make my pitch. If I miss, thats how it is," Santana said. "I have to change the page and get them next time." Notes: Molina got a rare night off. Hed played in 58 of the Cardinals first 60 games. ... Gordon was back in the leadoff spot for Kansas City. CF Lorenzo Cain batted third in the order for the first time. ... RHP Jeremy Guthrie will be on the mound for Kansas City on Wednesday. RHP Lance Lynn will pitch for the Cardinals. ... The game took 2 hours, 7 minutes to complete.Rudy Gay Jersey .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Marco Belinelli Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. https://www.spurslockerroom.com/George-Gervin-City-Edition-Jersey/ . PETERSBURG, Fla. Dennis Rodman Jersey . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. Bruce Bowen Jersey . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy.BURNLEY, England -- Arsenal scored with virtually the last touch of the game to beat Burnley 1-0 and extend its winning run in the Premier League to five games on Sunday.After a short corner in the second minute of injury time, Theo Walcott flicked on a cross and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain appeared to turn the ball in at the far post -- via the unintentional hand of teammate Laurent Koscielny just in front of him.Its hit both of us in the end, Oxlade-Chamberlain said, with a grin, and its squeezed in.It was a memorable way for Arsene Wenger to mark the 20th anniversary since he officially took charge of Arsenal. His team is in third place, two points behind leader Manchester City.I have noot seen the replay of our goal?and I did not see from the bench it go in, Wenger said.dddddddddddd Maybe we were a bit lucky there then (for possible handball), yes?Despite being on the back foot for most of the game and defending deeply, Burnley almost took the lead when Michael Keane headed a corner against the crossbar in the 75th minute.Alexis Sanchez shot wide with Arsenals best two chances before the visitors scrambled winner.It?was a difficult game, Wenger said. We had to not concede and be patient against a team who are?well-organised with full spirit. ' ' '