ST. LOUIS— Behind eight shutout innings from Jaime Garcia, the Cardinals opened their home portion of the I-70 Series with a 4-0 win over the Royals on Friday night at Busch Stadium.

Garcia, making his fifth start of the season, allowed four hits, none of which left the infield. All five have been quality starts, though this time the Cardinals provided the run support to back him. A pair of two-out, second-inning RBI hits from Jon Jay and Garcia was enough to make the Cardinals the Majors’ first team to 40 wins.

“When he’s healthy, that’s kind of what you expect,” manager Mike Matheny said of Garcia. “I think that’s a pretty big statement, but he’s that good. When he’s healthy, it’s no fun for the hitters. You’re seeing awkward at-bats and awkward swings because his stuff can be that different than everyone else’s.”

Royals starter Yordano Ventura lasted just three innings, giving up four hits and two runs. He left the game then and the Royals’ medical staff determined he had “right hand weakness.”

Royals manager Ned Yost could offer little more explanation after the game to the severity of the injury.

“We just don’t know,” Yost said. “We will wait until tomorrow and do some more tests and evaluate it again. … I’m not going to speculate.”

Ventura said through interpreter Christian Colon that his thumb and two outside fingers went numb in that third inning. After the game, Ventura said the trainers told him he likely would get an MRI today or Sunday.