HOUSTON, TX – The Kansas City Royals continued their impressive recent stretch, securing a 7-5 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday night behind a potent offensive attack and a quality start from Michael Wacha. Bobby Witt Jr. and Jonathan India each drove in two runs, propelling the Royals to their eighth win in their last ten games.
Michael Massey ignited the Royals’ offense in the second inning with a leadoff home run off Astros rookie pitcher Ryan Gusto. The Royals then tacked on three more runs in the frame. India delivered a two-out RBI single before scoring on Witt Jr.’s first triple of the season. Vinnie Pasquantino capped off the inning with an RBI single, giving Kansas City an early 4-0 lead.
The Royals weren’t done there, adding three more runs in the third inning. Drew Waters and India each contributed RBI singles, and Witt Jr. drove in Waters with a sacrifice fly, extending the Royals’ lead to 7-0.
Starting pitcher Michael Wacha (3-4) was steady on the mound for the Royals, allowing just two runs on eight hits through 6 1/3 innings. This was a welcome sight for Wacha, who entered the game with the lowest run support among all starters in the league, averaging a mere 1.79 runs per game. The Royals had not scored more than two runs in any of his previous eight starts.
The Astros began to chip away at the lead in the later innings. Zach Dezenzo hit an RBI double in the seventh, and Jeremy Peña added a sacrifice fly. Jake Meyers contributed an RBI single in the eighth, bringing Houston within two runs at 7-5. Meyers finished the night with two hits and two runs scored for the Astros, who had won three of their previous four games.
Gusto (3-2) struggled for the Astros, surrendering seven runs on seven hits and walking three batters in just 2 1/3 innings.
In the ninth inning, Astros star Jose Altuve led off with a single, offering a glimmer of hope for a comeback. However, Royals closer Carlos Estévez shut the door, getting three consecutive outs – Isaac Paredes flied out, Christian Walker struck out, and Yainer Diaz flied out – to secure his 12th save of the season.
Pregame coverage for Tuesday night’s matchup on Superstar Country 102.5 FM & 1530 AM KQNK begins at 6:30 PM, with the first pitch from Daikin Park in Houston scheduled for 7:10 PM. The Royals will send LHP Kris Bubic (4-2, 1.69 ERA) to the mound against Astros LHP Framber Valdez (2-4, 3.94 ERA).
