Royals starter Danny Duffy matched Keuchel for the first two innings before the Astros struck with two out in the bottom of the third. The Astros (45-34) lead the AL in wins, but the Royals (44-29) lead the league in winning percentage.
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Volquez (8-4, 3.18 ERA) is 6-0 with a 2.09 ERA in eight starts against the Astros, but has not faced them since 2012. He walked two, struck out six, and served up Springer’s home run.
The Astros are coming into this game after allowing zero walks during their last outing. 500 for the first time since May 29. “That was the key to the seven strikeouts, just keeping them off-balance”. He finished with a line of eight innings, six strikeouts, no walks and a zero in the Royals run column. The 26-year-old went through the first four innings without allowing a run but was charged with two (one earned) on eight hits without factoring in the decision.
In a matchup of teams with the best records in the American League, Houston snapped Kansas City’s four-game winning streak. Mat Latos (3-5) gave up 3 runs, 2 earned, in 6 innings. Charlie Blackmon had a solo homer in defeat.
Karns also started that game for Tampa Bay, which has lost five of seven. Mookie Betts had two hits and scored a pair of runs, and Xander Bogaerts smacked a two-run double in the triumph.
Joe Blanton tries to extend his surprise career resurgence tonight for the Royals with a third victory in as many starts. Anderson (1-0) set down 19 consecutive Rays before giving up a solo home run to onetime Indians star Grady Sizemore.
This is game 3 of a 3 game series between these American League foes.
Cincinnati’s Billy Hamilton scored three times in the first three innings to help the Reds open a huge lead and they hung on to beat Minnesota 11-7. He has fanned 27 batters over 23 innings at Minute Maid Park without allowing a home run.
Nate Adcock (1-1) got the victory with two scoreless innings in relief of Leake.
Albert Pujols and Kole Calhoun hit run-scoring doubles for Los Angeles.
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Mike Trout and C.J.
Yan Gomes had three hits, including a solo homer in the eighth for the Indians, who limped into town after being shut out in both games of a doubleheader at Baltimore on Sunday. Wilson pitched six quality innings to lead the Angels past the Yankees 4-1 in the opener of a three-game series.
Perez took much less time to reach his big number, getting there in his fifth season with a homer in the eighth inning off Edward Mujica that provided insurance for the Royals. The Angels have won four of their last five, and the Yankees dropped their second in a row thanks to going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Hosmer’s finger swelled up during the Royals’ series finale against Oakland Athletics on Sunday after initially injuring it the day before.
Whether Dallas Keuchel is motivated by the chance of starting in the All-Star game, whether it’s pushing an already intense competitor just a bit more, isn’t something that can be known for sure.
He wasn’t ideal, allowing six hits and rarely fooling hitters but he was rock solid when it counted.
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Castillo doubled off reliever Pedro Baez (1-1) to drive in Jake Lamb with none out. The reigning AL MVP also saved a couple of runs with two sprinting catches in center field on balls hit over his head. Goldschmidt extended his hitting streak to 10 games earlier in the contest.
