Royals fail to generate offense besides pair of homers, fall 6-4 to Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — George Springer, Carlos Correa and Robinson Chirinos each homered to lead the Houston Astros to a 6-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night.

Springer opened the first with his 11th home run of the season, including three leadoff drives. He added an RBI double in the eighth.

Correa had three hits. He opened the second by extending his hitting streak to a career-high 16 games with a home run.

Chirinos’ two-run drive in the sixth put the Astros back in front at 5-4.

Hunter Dozier hit a two-run homer in the Royals fourth. Adalberto Mondesi‘s two-run homer in the fifth gave Kansas City a 4-3 lead.

Gerrit Cole (3-4) yielded four runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Hector Rondon got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, thanks to a barehanded play by second baseman Jose Altuve on a soft chopper to get Kelvin Gutierrez at first and end the inning.

Roberto Osuna pitched the ninth for his eighth save.

Jakob Junis (3-3) allowed five runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. The Royals have lost four of five.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOSE

Altuve turned 29 years old and the fans serenaded him with “Happy Birthday” to start the ninth inning. Altuve showed his appreciation by applauding the fans.

ROSTER MOVES

Royals: Recalled RHP Glenn Sparkman from Triple-A Omaha and optioned RHP Ben Lively to Omaha.

Astros: Optioned OF Derek Fisher to Triple-A Round Rock. Fisher served as the 26th man during the Astros’ two-game series in Mexico over the weekend.

UP NEXT

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (0-1, 3.27 ERA) starts Tuesday, looking to build off his last outing in which he allowed one run in six innings against the Rays.

Astros: RHP Collin McHugh (3-3, 4.97) makes his eighth start of the season, trying to rebound after yielding four runs in six innings Wednesday in a loss to the Twins.