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Scott, known more for his defense and speed at this point in his young career, lined a 2-1 changeup from former Cardinals pitcher and current Kansas City Royals reliever Chris Stratton into the right field corner and drove in the tying and go-ahead runs. That double, the fourth of Scott’s career, gave the Cardinals their first lead since the top of the third inning.

Contreras, who homered in the first inning to give the Cardinals their first lead of the night, came to bat with a runner on and no outs in the ninth and the Cardinals’ holding a one-run lead. Contreras, who homered in the first inning and snapped an 0-for-6 stretch at the plate, crushed a first-pitch fastball from Angel Zerpa high and deep to left field. The blast cleared the scoreboard in front of the Royals Hall of Fame.

Cardinals All-Star closer Ryan Helsley gave up a hit and a walk in the bottom of the ninth, but he got a game-ending double play and earned his MLB-leading 37th save of the season as he provided the final touches on an 8-5 win over the Royals in the first game of a two-game interleague series at Kauffman Stadium.

The Cardinals (60-57) have now won three of their past four games.

Alec Burleson also homered in the game win for the Cardinals. Burleson went 3 for 5, and Brendan Donovan (3 for 5) also had three hits in the game as did Contreras (3 for 4, one walk, four RBIs)

The Royals, who had a day off on Thursday, entered the series in third place in the AL Central, just 3 ½ games back of the division-leading Cleveland Guardians and a game behind the Minnesota Twins.

Cards play the matchup with Pham

Cardinals right-handed hitting outfielder Tommy Pham started in right field on Friday night with Royals right-handed starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen on the mound.

The Cardinals acquired Pham in large part to help address their struggles against left-handed pitchers this season. However, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said from the time the club reacquired Pham that he’d start against right-handers when the matchup was favorable.

This season, right-handed hitters have slugged .488 against Lorenzen. Left-handers slugged .271 against him entering Friday’s game. The higher frequency of right-handed hitters doing “damage� against Lorenzen factored into Pham starting and left-handed hitting outfielder Lars Nootbaar beginning the game on the bench. Nootbaar entered the game in the eighth as a pinch runner.

Home runs propel Cardinals to early lead

The Cardinals scored their first three runs, the first three runs of the game, on home runs.

Contreras’ 14th homer of the season gave them a 2-0 lead just three batters into the game. Masyn Winn’s leadoff walk set the table. After Burleson hit a flew out, Contreras bashed a 1-2 fastball an estimated 382 feet and off the top of the right field wall and into the home bullpen for a two-run home run.

Then in the top of the third inning, Burleson lined a 2-1 curveball down the right field line and into the stands for his 20th home run of the season. Two of the Cardinals’ first four hits were home runs. They led 3-0 going into the bottom of the third inning.

Royals rally without the long ball

The Royals evened the score in the bottom of the third inning. They started the frame with three consecutive hits against Mikolas.

First, Maikel Garcia singled. Then Kyle Isbel smacked an RBI triple off the base of the wall in right-center field. Michael Massey then singled up the middle on a bouncer that Winn ranged to the first-base side of second base and deflected. That scored the second run of the inning.

With two outs and Massey on second base, Royals catcher Salvador Perez swatted a single down the left field line and tied the score.

The Royals took a 5-3 lead in the fourth inning on an RBI double by Maikel Garcia and a sacrifice fly by Massey.

Liberatore holds the line

Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore came on out the bullpen in relief of Mikolas in the fifth inning.

Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas allowed five runs on eight hits in four innings. He did not walk a batter, and he struck out three. Royals hitters made hard contact against Mikolas. The average exit velocity on balls put in play with Mikolas on the mound was 91.5 mph overall and 99.6 mph on his sinker.

Liberatore pitched three scoreless innings and allowed no hits and one walk. He quieted the Royals offense after it scored five runs in the previous two innings, and he kept the Cardinals within striking distance in the process.

The Cardinals pulled within a run, 5-4, on an RBI groundout by Pham that scored Paul Goldschmidt.