The Royals rallied with five runs in the ninth inning on Monday night, but it was too little, too late, after Houston scored fifth in the bottom of the eighth to provide enough cushion for a 9-7 win.  Houston hit three homers and handed left Jonathan Sanchez, his third loss of the season. Yuniesky Bentacourt and Billy Butler each drove in two runs for the Royals. Bentancourt now has five RBIs in the last two games.

The Royals also placed second baseman Chris Getz on the DL with a leg injury that he suffered in Sunday’s game at Busch Stadium.