Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Hunter Dozier drove in three runs, top prospect Nicky Lopez had an RBI single in his big league debut, and the Kansas City Royals routed the Texas Rangers 11-5. Alex Gordon and Jorge Soler also drove in two runs apiece for the Royals, who scored nine times in the first inning and soon knocked Rangers starter Shelby Miller from the game. Danny Duffy earned the win with five shaky innings for Kansas City.

ATLANTA (AP) — St. Louis hit four home runs, including three-run shots by Marcell Ozuna, Yadier Molina and Kolten Wong, and the Cardinals beat struggling right-hander Mike Foltynewicz and the Atlanta Braves 14-3 on Tuesday night. Jack Flaherty did not allow a hit through four innings. St. Louis led 11-0 before Flaherty gave up three runs and three hits in the fifth.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals are giving top prospect Nicky Lopez his big league shot, summoning him from Triple-A Omaha and putting him right into the starting lineup for their series opener against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night. The 24-year-old Lopez was the Royals’ fifth-round pick in the 2016 draft.