Morales homers twice as Royals knock off Astros
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kendrys Morales homered twice and rookie Cheslor Cuthbert blasted a two-run shot as the Kansas City Royals topped the Houston Astros 6-1 to avoid being swept in the three-game series.
Morales began the five-run seventh with a shot into the Astros' right-field bullpen to break a 1-1 tie. It was Morales' 15th career multi-home run game. He homered in the fourth for the first Kansas City run.
Alcides Escobar singled before Cuthbert's home run, his seventh, on an 0-1 Doug Fister pitch.
Left-hander Tony Sipp was summoned to get the final out of the seventh, but instead allowed a single to Alex Gordon, a double to Lorenzo Cain, which was his third hit, and a two-run double to Eric Hosmer.
The beleaguered Royals' rotation got a needed quality start from Ian Kennedy, who restricted the Astros to three hits and one run, an Evan Gattis home run. Kennedy struck out a season-high 11, the 11th time in his career he has reached double figures.
The Royals stranded two runners in the first and third innings.
With two out in the first, Cain singled and motored to third on Hosmer's single to right. Salvador Perez popped up to shortstop Carlos Correa to end the inning.
Whit Merrifield and Cain singled in the third, but Hosmer grounded out to second Marwin Gonzalez to strand the runners.
The Royals broke out on top on Morales' solo blast in the fourth. Morales sent a 1-1 Fister offering out to right.
The Astros tied it in the sixth Gattis lined Kennedy's first pitch into the left-field seats for his 12th home run.
NOTES: Astros 2B Jose Altuve was the designated hitter for only the second time this season. After A.J. Reed was the DH in his big-league debut Saturday, he played first base Sunday, while Marwin Gonzalez, who had been playing mostly first base recently, started at second. ... For the first time this season, Eric Hosmer did not start at first base for the Royals. He was the DH, while Kendrys Morales played first base. ... The Royals open a four-game series Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals with the first two games at Kansas City. Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright and Royals LHP Danny Duffy are the probables for the opener. ... The Astros continue this road trip with a three-game series at Los Angeles. Astros RHP Collin McHugh and Angels RHP Matt Shoemaker are the Monday probables.