ST. LOUIS (Interstat) — The St. Louis Cardinals rallied twice in extra innings to defeat the Kansas City Royals 5-4 on Friday night at Busch Stadium, extending their winning streak to three games and handing Kansas City its fourth straight loss.

Yohel Pozo delivered the game-winning single in the bottom of the 11th inning, driving in Nathan Church from third base to cap a seesaw affair that featured four lead changes and lasted 3 hours, 12 minutes before an announced crowd of 26,949.

The Royals struck first in the fourth inning, breaking a scoreless tie with a two-run outburst. Vinnie Pasquantino walked to lead off the frame, and Salvador Perez singled him to third. Carter Jensen then laced an RBI double to left field, scoring Pasquantino and moving Perez to third. One batter later, Isaac Collins lofted a sacrifice fly to right, plating Perez and giving Kansas City a 2-0 lead.

The Cardinals answered immediately in the bottom half. With one out, Ivan Herrera was hit by a pitch, and Jordan Walker followed with a two-run homer to center field, his 13th of the season, knotting the game at 2-2.

St. Louis took its first lead in the fifth inning when Pedro Pagés led off with a solo home run to center, his fourth of the year, putting the Cardinals ahead 3-2.

Kansas City responded in the sixth. Pasquantino drew a leadoff walk, and after Perez flied out, Jensen singled to put runners on first and second. Jac Caglianone then reached on a ground-ball single deflected by first baseman Alec Burleson, loading the bases. Collins grounded out to first, scoring Pasquantino and tying the game at 3-3.

The score remained deadlocked through the seventh, eighth and ninth innings as both bullpens battled. Kansas City had a chance in the ninth when Kyle Isbel singled with one out, but Maikel Garcia grounded into a double play to end the inning. St. Louis also threatened in the bottom of the ninth, putting runners on the corners with two outs, but Ivan Herrera lined out sharply to center fielder Isbel, sending the game to extra innings.

In the top of the 10th, the Royals struck again. Garcia reached base to lead off, and Bobby Witt Jr. doubled sharply to center, scoring Garcia to give Kansas City a 4-3 lead. After Pasquantino popped out and Perez struck out, the Royals intentionally walked Jensen, but Lane Thomas struck out to strand two runners.

The Cardinals answered in the bottom of the 10th. With one out, Alec Burleson singled home pinch-runner Thomas Saggese, tying the game at 4-4. Jordan Walker struck out, but Nolan Gorman singled to put runners on first and third. However, Masyn Winn struck out and Nathan Church lined out to right, ending the threat and sending the game to the 11th.

Kansas City went quietly in the top of the 11th. Isaac Collins walked with one out, but Michael Massey flied out and Isbel grounded into a force out, leaving the Royals without a run.

In the bottom of the 11th, Church led off and reached base. Pagés sacrificed him to third. After Jose Fermin grounded out, the Royals intentionally walked JJ Wetherholt to set up a force at any base. Pozo then stepped in and laced a single to right field, scoring Church and giving St. Louis the walk-off victory.

The loss fell to Royals reliever Steven Cruz, who allowed the winning run in 1 1/3 innings. He fell to 0-1 on the season. Cardinals reliever Gordon Graceffo pitched a perfect top of the 11th to earn the win, improving to 3-1.

St. Louis outhit Kansas City 12-7. Jordan Walker led the Cardinals with a home run, two RBIs and two hits. Pedro Pagés also homered and drove in a run. For the Royals, Carter Jensen went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored, while Bobby Witt Jr. doubled and drove in a run.

Kansas City fell to 19-26 on the season, while St. Louis improved to 26-18.

The game marked the opener of a two-game interleague series between the Missouri rivals, with the teams meeting again Saturday and Sunday at Busch Stadium.

The Royals are scheduled to return home after the series to host the Boston Red Sox for three games starting Monday. The Cardinals will host the Pittsburgh Pirates for a three-game set beginning Tuesday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of St. Louis 6, Kansas City 5. Interstat’s ELO system had projected St. Louis with a 53.60 percent probability to win. Kansas City had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total score of 9 went under the over/under line of 8.5.