ST. LOUIS — Royals right-hander Brad Keller turned in his best outing in more than a month on Wednesday, as he went seven-plus innings and gave up just two runs and two hits in the Royals’ 8-2 win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium in the first game of a split doubleheader.

The last time he found this type of success was on April 12, when he held Cleveland to one run over 6 2/3 innings. That was his most recent winning decision before today’s victory.

Jorge Soler blasted a three-run home run as part of a six-run third inning that put the Royals in charge. Hunter Dozier drove two runs for the Royals with sacrifice flies in the second and third innings, and Whit Merrifield singled, doubled, scored a run and drove in a run for Kansas City.