Astros 3, Royals 0
Collin McHugh tossed seven stellar innings and Alex Presley went 3-for-3 with an RBI as visiting Houston extended its winning streak to a season-high four games.
Matt Dominguez had a run-scoring single and Jason Castro and Robbie Grossman added two hits apiece for the Astros, who look to complete their first series sweep of the season on Wednesday. Rookie George Springer had his home-run streak snapped at four games but has hit safely in nine straight contests after delivering a single in the seventh inning.
McHugh (3-3) limited Kansas City to five singles while striking out nine as he snapped a personal three-game losing streak. Tony Sipp and Chad Qualls backed up the 26-year-old by combining for two perfect innings of relief.
Jeremy Guthrie (2-4) fell to 0-4 over his last nine starts despite yielding just one run on seven hits over six frames. The veteran right-hander has allowed a total of two runs over 13 innings in his last two outings - both losses.
Houston got on the board in the fourth as Dexter Fowler drew a one-out walk and came home two batters later on Dominguez's looping single to center field. The Astros added a pair of runs in the eighth, when Castro led off with a double and scored on a wild pitch by Tim Collins before Presley lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Jesus Guzman.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Fowler has reached base safely in 24 of Houston's 25 games this month. ... Royals RHP Yordano Ventura received a favorable result on the MRI exam of his elbow and will miss just one start as a precautionary measure. ... Kansas City was shut out for the fourth time this season and third this month.