Royals 2, Astros 1
Bruce Chen pitched 5 2/3 solid innings to outduel Jordan Lyles as visiting Kansas City edged Houston in the rubber match of a three-game set.
Brayan Pena recorded the lone RBI on a groundout and Alex Gordon scored on an error for the Royals, who have won seven of nine.
Chen (6-6) allowed one run on five hits while striking out six and walking two. The veteran left-hander bounced back from a disastrous start last weekend in which he was lit up for six runs in 1 2/3 innings at St. Louis.
Lyles (1-4) matched his longest effort of the season, working seven innings and surrendering only two runs and three hits. The 21-year-old right-hander struck out four and did not walk a batter, but was saddled with his third straight loss.
Kansas City scratched out a run in the fifth when Mike Moustakas led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout and came in on Pena’s groundout.
The Royals extended it to 2-0 in the sixth as Alex Gordon tripled and came in to score on Jed Lowrie’s error at short.
The Astros got a run back on Lowrie’s RBI single in the sixth, but four Kansas City relievers combined to strike out eight in 3 1/3 innings.
Jonathan Broxton allowed a pair of hits in the ninth but got the final two outs with the tying run on third to lock down his 18th save.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Astros LF J.D. Martinez recorded his second multi-hit game in as many starts. He was 7-for-47 (.149) in his previous 12 games. … Houston CF Jason Maxwell left the game after the fifth inning due to a left ankle sprain. … Prior to the game, the Royals recalled IF Irving Falu from Class AAA Oklahoma and optioned RH Louis Coleman to the minors.