Houston continues to put up Astro-nomical numbers
KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The Houston Astros scored early and late to extend their winning streak to an MLBbest 11 straight games on Monday night.
Yuli Gurriel ripped a threerun homer and Brian McCann added a two-run shot as the visiting Astros whipped the Kansas City Royals 7-3.
The streak is now just one shy of tying Houston’s club record of 12 straight wins in 1999 and 2004.
McCann homered in the fourth after Marwin Gonzalez walked to lead off the inning. The veteran catcher had only managed one hit in his previous 16 at-bats since returning from a concussion.
“I haven’t been swinging the bat well since I’ve come back off the DL,” McCann said. “But tonight I made some minor adjustments and was able to drive the ball to left-center. When I’m doing that, it’s a good sign.”
Gurriel homered in the ninth off Kelvin Herrera. He has gone deep in back-to-back games and has 10 RBIs during a six-game hitting streak.
“We got after them early and then they put on a little bit of a push and it got really close,” Astros manager A J Hinch said. “Then obviously Yuli’s home run off of Herrera was a big punch for us.”
McCann started a two-run second inning with a one-out double and scored on Nori Aoki’s single. George Springer’s two-out single scored Gurriel, who had walked.
Houston has also won 11 consecutive road games, which is a franchise record. The team is 22-6 away from home this season.
“We don’t sit there feeling like, ‘Boy they look like they are going to win tonight,’ ” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “But you look at their team and what they’re doing, I’m sure that’s their attitude and their feeling.”
Astros starter Mike Fiers (3-2) worked five innings plus two batters. He was charged with two runs, seven hits and a walk.
Fiers is 6-0 in his past 10 road starts dating to Aug 20.
“You can throw strikes, but they’ve got to be in good spots, especially against a team that swings a lot like these guys,” Fiers said. “They come out swinging early, so pitch one is huge.”
The Royals scored a pair of runs in the second. Brandon Moss doubled to score Eric Hosmer, while Alcides Escobar’s bunt single got Mike Moustakas home.
Rookie Jorge Bonifacio homered off James Hoyt in the seventh to trim the lead to 4-3.
The Royals had Hosmer at third and Moustakas at first with none out in the sixth, but failed to score.
Ian Kennedy (0-6) took the loss, giving up four runs, six hits and three walks over five innings.
Kennedy, in the second season of a five-year contract paying him $70 million, is winless in 14 starts.