Royals use six-run eighth to defeat Astros
HOUSTON -- Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez clubbed back-to-back home runs as the Kansas City Royals erupted for six runs in the eighth inning of a 7-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.
The Royals (2-3) broke out against Astros reliever Luke Gregerson (0-1), with left fielder Alex Gordon delivering a two-run double and center fielder Lorenzo Cain an RBI single before Hosmer and Perez struck their backbreaking blows.
Gordon plated Alcides Escobar and pinch-runner Raul Mondesi for a 3-2 Kansas City lead.
Houston (3-3) dropped its third consecutive game as its offense continues to sputter. The Astros scratched across eight hits off Royals left-hander Danny Duffy (1-0), including a solo homer by catcher Brian McCann in the bottom of the third.
But Duffy remained largely unbothered even when he encountered trouble. After the Astros loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, all they could manage was one run on a Marwin Gonzalez single to left field. Duffy escaped further damage by getting McCann to roll into a 4-6-3 inning-ending double play.
Astros lefty Dallas Keuchel produced his second quality start of the season, allowing one run on two hits and one walk with four strikeouts in seven innings.
He extended his scoreless innings streak to open the season to 11 before Cheslor Cuthbert blasted a 1-1 cutter into the left-field seats in the fifth, cutting the two-run deficit in half.
Keuchel followed with a two-base throwing error that allowed Paulo Orlando to reach second base with no outs. He then buckled down to record consecutive ground-ball outs after Escobar dropped a sacrifice bunt that advanced Orlando to third base.
The Astros failed to capitalize on a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fifth when center fielder Jake Marisnick was caught stealing after reaching base. Third baseman Alex Bregman added a single to center field, but he was left stranded.
NOTES: Astros RHP Collin McHugh will be shut down for a minimum of six weeks due to a posterior impingement of his right elbow. McHugh opened the season on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis and left his rehab start on Thursday with Triple-A Fresno after just one inning with elbow discomfort. He will be reevaluated following the six-week period. ... Royals 3B Cheslor Cuthbert recorded his first hit of the season with his leadoff home run in the fifth inning. Cuthbert did not play in the series opener after making his season debut on Wednesday. ... With his solo home run in the third inning, Astros C Brian McCann pulled to within five homers of tying Roy Campanella for 10th place in major league history for homers by a catcher. Campanella hit 239 as a backstop from 1948-57.