Astros Dominate Royals 8-2 In Home Opener

The last time the Kansas City Royals took on the Houston Astros in Houston, the Royals rallied to score seven runs over the final two innings to stave off elimination extend the ALDS to Game 5.  KC won that game 7-2 on behind Johnny Cueto‘s masterpiece and went on to win the World Series over the Mets after dispatching the Blue Jays in the ALCS.

Astros Win Home Opener 8-2 Over Royals

The Astros had waited all offseason since faltering October 12 in front of their hometown fans, and they wasted no time jumping out a lead against Royals’ starter Chris Young (0-2, 7.45 ERA) in their 8-2 victory over the defending champs.

Houston exploded for three runs after their first four batters.  Carlos Correa hit a frozen rope for a double to drive in Jose Altuve, which was followed by a Colby Rasmus moon shot that went into the upper deck and just like that it was 3-0.

Correa, who had a crucial error in the eighth inning of the Royals’ comeback victory in October, went 3-5 with two RBIs to continue his ascension as one of the game’s best players.  Altuve collected three hits, scored three runs, stole two bases, and drove a run in.

Rookie first baseman Tyler White continued his red hot start to 2016, going 2-4. White  was named American League Player of the Week prior to the start of the game after hitting .555, with 3 home runs, and 9 RBI in the first week of the season.

Astros’ starter Collin McHugh (1-1, 6.16 ERA) provided a strong performance on the mound after getting rocked by the Yankees in the Bronx during his first start, which he was tagged for 5 earned runs and lasted just 1/3 of the first inning in the 16-6 loss.

On Monday, he fared much better, providing Houston with 7 innings of shutout pitching, allowing, 8 hits, and striking out four.

“I was focused on getting through that first inning today,” McHugh said. “Once we got through that it was just kind of just go after them the rest of the game.”

McHugh only found himself in a tough spot twice, once in the fourth after a two out Alex Gordon double resulted in Eric Hosmer on third but the two out threat did not come to pass after McHugh got Salvador Perez to fly out.  The other jam McHugh found himself in was in the seventh with the bases loaded and just one out.  The 28-year old righty was able to get Mike Moustakas to pop out to Correa, and then got Lorenzo Cain to fly out to right field to end the inning.

“He was exceptional and he pitched with a purpose tonight,” Astros’ manager A.J. Hinch said. “I am glad he made the adjustment from being a careful pitcher dancing around the strike zone to attacking them with all of his pitches. He did a good job of setting the tone for our team and I thought it was important that we fed off that as a team.”

The Royals weren’t able to put much together against McHugh outside of the fourth and seventh innings.  Alcides Escobar, Gordon, and Hosmer combined for 7 of the team’s 11 hits.  Kendrys Morales hit a long home run off of Astros’ reliever Tony Sipp in the eighth to make it 7-2.  Kansas City did get two men on with one out in the 5th, but Moustakas grounded into a 3-6-1 double play to end the inning.

Young only lasted 4 2/3 innings while being charged with six earned runs.  “I feel bad digging the team into a hole like that, having to play from behind,” Young said. “But it’s a tough lineup.”

The teams will meet again tonight at 8:10 PM EST with the Royals (4-2) sending Kris Medlen, who has yet to pitch in 2016 but went 6-2 with a 4.01 in 15 appearances in 2015 (8 starts).  Houston (3-4) will counter with Mike Fiers (0-0, 9.00 ERA).

PHOTO: HOUSTON, TX – APRIL 11: Luis Valbuena #18 of the Houston Astros doubles in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Minute Maid Park on April 11, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Article by Nick Vigliotti