Royals 2013 Series Recaps: Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are the next team we’ll take a look at in our 2013 series recap, the two teams faced each other twice with Houston changing leagues this year. Royals fans had an early season meltdown when the teams first met and the Astros took two-of-three but KC did sweep Houston in the next meeting at the K.

Ervin Santana was brilliant against the Houston Astros at Kauffman Stadium on June 8th in the Royals 7-2 win, KC took the season series 4-2. Photo Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

In their first American League season the ‘Stros went 51-111 but as mentioned took the first series May 20-22. They met again June 7-9 in Kansas City which was a sweep in the middle of their six-game win streak at the time.

May 20 – Royals (20-21) 5 @ Astros (13-32) 6
Win: Dallas Keuchel (1-1) Loss: Jeremy Guthrie (5-2) Save: Jose Veras (7)
Recap: Kansas City came into this game at .500 but coming off getting swept by the Athletics in Oakland. The difference in the game was Houston scoring two runs in the third with the game tied at one. Why was it the difference? KC took the lead 4-3 in the next inning but the Astros matched that with three runs of their own. The Royals put one more run up in the eighth inning when Jeff Francoeur’s double made it a one run game which would be the last threat from the boys in blue.

May 21 – Royals (21-21) 7 @ Astros (13-33) 3
Win: Bruce Chen (3-0) Loss: Paul Clemens (1-2)
Recap:  Wade Davis went five innings allowing three runs on eight hits but it was the efforts of J.C. Gutierrez, Bruce Chen, Aaron Crow and Greg Holland coming out of the bullpen to keep KC in the game. The quartet allowed just two hits but kept the Astros off the scoreboard which allowed the Royals to comeback. Kansas City scored seven runs in the final three innings with two in the seventh, four in the eighth and one in the ninth. Alex Gordon had three hits, Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas had two hits apiece. Alcides Escobar who entered as a pinch hitter drove in two-runs with one hit.

May 22 – Royals (21-22) 1 @ Astros (14-33) 3
Win: Jordan Lyles (2-1) Loss: James Shields (2-5) Save: Jose Veras (8)
Recap: Houston’s J.D. Martinez tagged James Shields for two runs in the first inning on a homerun which proved to be the difference in the Astros 3-1 victory that clinched the series.  Jordan Lyles scattered six hits through six innings of work and was backed by three perfect innings by his bullpen. Shields threw seven innings allowing seven hits while striking out seven but the offense couldn’t overcome the runs allowed.

June 7 – Astros (22-40) 2 @ Royals (26-32) 4
Win: Kelvin Herrera (3-4) Loss: Wesley Wright (0-2) Save: Greg Holland (11)
Recap: The win made it three in a row for the Royals and was another game which Kansas City had to come back to win. Shields in his second start against the Astros in 2013 again went seven innings but allowed nine hits while striking out six. Tied at two in the eighth inning Butler doubled home Hosmer which a couple batters later David Lough made it 4-2 with a second double in the inning. Holland worked a perfect ninth to pick up his 11^th save of the season.

June 8 – Astros (22-41) 2 @ Royals (27-32) 7
Win: Ervin Santana (4-5) Loss: Erik Bedard (1-3)
Recap: Unlike the Royals previous two wins against Houston there be no need for a comeback win as KC scored the first five runs in the 7-2 victory. Ervin Santana went seven innings allowing just five hits and two runs with six strikeouts. Hosmer had a team high two-RBIs in the victory which Salvador Perez, Cain and Elliot Johnson drove in runs.

June 9 – Astros (22-42) 0 @ Royals (28-32) 2
Win: Aaron Crow (2-1) Loss: Hector Ambriz (1-3) Save: Greg Holland (12)
Recap: Lucas Herrell and Luis Mendoza went pitch-for-pitch in this game both going seven innings, Herrell allowed two hits with one K, three walks while the Dozer allowing four hits, striking out three and walking one. It was another meeting which the bullpens would be involved. In the eighth inning with one out and Chris Getz on second Gordon singled him home. On the single Gordon moved up to third on an error by the centerfielder Trevor Crowe, Hosmer singled him home making it 2-0. After a leadoff walk Holland got a 5-4-3 which was followed-up by a game ending swinging strikeout of Chris Carter for the teams fifth straight win.