Molina homers and has 4 RBIs to lift Cardinals to 6-3 win over Royals

St. Louis Cardinals' Daniel Descalso (33) beats the tag by Kansas City Royals second baseman Elliot Johnson (23) during the eighth inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, May 27, 2013. Descalso doubled on the play. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) (The Associated Press)

Fans display flags during a baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, May 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) (The Associated Press)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Yadier 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, doubled home a run in the third and his sacrifice fly in the fourth scored Pete Kozma.

While the Cardinals own the best road record, 19-9, in the majors, the Royals dropped their ninth straight home game — one shy of the franchise record set last year.

The anticipated pitcher's duel between Adam Wanwright and James Shields failed to materialize.

Wainwright (7-3), who had given up 12 hits in 22 1-3 innings in his previous three starts, allowed 12 hits, the most he has allowed in a game since Sept. 14, 2010 against the Chicago Cubs.

Shields (2-6) yielded nine hits and season-highs of six runs and five walks in six innings to lose his fourth straight start.