Bizzy Montana » lthough Taylor missed match darts in their Masters s

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Yadier Molina looked perfectly comfortable in the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Batting second for only the third time in his career, Molina homered and drove in four runs to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the slumping Kansas City Royals 6-3 on Monday. Molina hit a two-run homer in the first inning and doubled home a run in the third before his sacrifice fly in the fourth scored Pete Kozma. "Yadier is pretty flexible," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "We like him wherever he hits. Today he did a nice job hitting in the second position." Molina had batted fifth 40 times and sixth seven times this year. "It doesnt matter for me," he said. "Ive got the same approach: Im going to be aggressive." While the Cardinals own the best road record in the majors at 19-9, the Royals dropped their ninth straight home game -- one shy of the franchise record set last year. "Were playing good," Molina said. "Weve got some good offence. Right now, were seeing the ball pretty good. Were finding some holes. Were showing the people weve got a pretty good team. Hopefully we can continue to do that for the rest of the season." The anticipated pitchers duel between Adam Wainwright and James Shields failed to materialize. Wainwright (7-3) struck out five and walked none in eight innings for the win. He allowed 12 hits, his most since Sept. 14, 2010, against the Chicago Cubs. The right-hander gave up 12 hits over 22 1-3 innings in his previous three starts. "Early on, they got some hits off some bad pitches and I felt like as the game went on they put some really good at-bats against me and hit some good pitches as well," Wainwright said. "I broke several of their bats and they found holes. The got some good hits as well on good pitches. I think as a pitcher no matter what happens on the other side you just have to keep battling and keep making pitches and eventually if you keep making pitches things will work out." Edward Mujica gave up a hit in the ninth but earned his 15th save in as many opportunities. Shields (2-6) yielded nine hits and season highs of six runs and five walks over six innings while losing his fourth straight start. "I wasnt commanding my fastball and I was getting behind in the count and then I started walking guys," Shields said. "Weve just got to gut it out. Weve got great effort in here." After rain delayed the start for 62 minutes, the Cardinals opened the game with Matt Carpenters single and Molinas third home run. It was the first time Molina had faced Shields. "Shields is a good pitcher," Molina said. "My brother (caught) him in Tampa. I watched him a bunch of times on TV. Ive got a pretty good idea what he brings to the table. He made a couple of mistakes in the middle and I took advantage." Royals rookie David Lough, who had a career-high four hits, led off the first with a double and scored on Alex Gordons single. Molinas double in the third scored Daniel Descalso. Molina scored on Allen Craigs single. The Royals answered with two runs in the bottom half. Gordon scored on a wild pitch and Eric Hosmer contributed an RBI single. The Cardinals expanded their lead in the sixth when Carpenters double scored Descalso, who had three hits and a walk. "We showed some life," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "We had Wainwright on the ropes, but we couldnt get the big hit." NOTES: Cardinals RHP Jake Westbrook threw all his pitches in a bullpen session and experienced no pain in the tender elbow that put him on the disabled list May 9. After that, Westbrook cancelled an afternoon flight to see Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion on his elbow. ... The Cardinals optioned RHP Carlos Martinez to Triple-A Memphis, where he will start after seven relief appearances in the majors. The 21-year-old Martinez has primarily been a starter in the minors. ... The Cardinals scratched pitching prospect Michael Wacha from a Sunday start with Memphis. He could start Thursday at St. Louis against the Royals. "Were still checking our options," Matheny said. ... 3B Mike Moustakas was held out of the Royals lineup with a bruised quadriceps, but was available if needed. ... The Cardinals recalled RHP Victor Marte from Memphis, where he had 10 saves. ... LF Matt Holliday, in an 0-for-14 skid, was not in the Cardinals lineup. 20:50ET 27-05-13 Jalen Brunson Jersey . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. Dirk Nowitzki Mavericks Jersey . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. http://www.mavericksteamofficial.info/jason-kidd-mavericks-jersey/ . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. Jason Kidd Mavericks Jersey . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. Jose Juan Barea Mavericks Jersey . Third-seeded Murray had the easiest path to victory on New Years Eve, barely breaking a sweat during his 6-0, 6-0 win over 2,129th-ranked Qatari wildcard recipient Mousa Shanan Zayed.Michael van Gerwen admits Phil Taylor is the greatest but insists all the pressure will be on The Power in their Premier League clash. Premier League leader Van Gerwen will take on the second-placed Taylor in an eagerly awaited showdown this Thursday night in Glasgow, live on Sky Sports. The Dutchmans recent dazzling form, which includes a record-breaking average of 124 in the Premier League, has led to fresh debate about whether he can become the best player ever.Offering his own opinion, Van Gerwen insists Taylor, a 16-time world champion, will always be recognised as the sports finest champion, but admits his recent winning record could give him a psychological edge against the 55-year-old. I think Im the best darts player at the moment, but Phil is the greatest player whos ever lived and hes still a fantastic player. Michael van Gerwen I think Im the best darts player at the moment, but Phil is the greatest player whos ever lived and hes still a fantastic player, said van Gerwen.I know Im the No 1 in the world and people will say the pressures on me, but the pressure is on him - or he will put the pressure on himself because I know Phil Taylor. Van Gerwen has won a succession of matches against Taylor in recent months I dont have a point to prove, I think Phil has a point to prove because Ive beaten him the last few times on television. Hes the greatest who ever lived in darts.Myself and Phil is probably the best game and I hope we can both play really well. Phil is the greatest player who ever lived but I think Im playing the best darts that have ever been thrown and Im showing some fantastic performances.Van Gerwen has won six successive televised games against Taylor since August 2014, although Taylor missed match darts in their Masters semi-final in January and also led in both Novembers Grand Slam final and the recentt UK Open semi-final.dddddddddddd But Taylor is expecting a closely contested match I cant wait, Im really looking forward to it and hes in for a game, said Taylor. Im close to Michael, getting closer and closer, and Im not going to keep missing doubles.I missed doubles in a few games and he hasnt. Ive got to be more ruthless. Ill keep pushing him and I think probably Im one of only two or three players who can give him a good game so hes in for a treat. Michael van Gerwen plays Phil Taylor in a top-of-the-table clash on Thursday What do I think about Michaels averages? Unbelievable. His ability is fantastic, but everybodys ability is good - its his concentration and his aggression thats getting him through, and he doesnt think hes going to miss a double. I think once I get him, hes in for a massive battle.Watch Premier League Darts on Thursday live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. Also See: Studds Dutch dynamos WATCH: Glasgow glory ' ' '