Jeff Francis outdueled Chris Carpenter to earn his first win as the host Royals beat St. Louis 3-0 in the I-70 series opener Friday night.

Francis (1-5) went 7 2/3 innings, allowing six hits, striking out six and walking two.

The game was scoreless until Kansas City's three-run seventh. Billy Butler led off with a single, went to third on Wilson Betemit's double and scored on Brayan Pena's sacrifice fly. Alcides Escobar's RBI single made it 2-0 and Melky Cabrera plated a third run with a sacrifice fly.

Aaron Crow got the final out of the eighth and Joakim Soria pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his seventh save.

Carpenter fell to 1-4 as he continued to get little run support. The righthander allowed three runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings.

The Royals won their second straight after five losses while snapping the Cards' four-game win streak. K.C. improved to 27-34 against its in-state rival since the creation of interleague play.