Zack Greinke stopped the Royals’ five game losing streak by going eight innings while allowing just one run on eight hits while striking out five. He got just enough offense to back him up for a 2-1 win at Houston.
Greinke gave up three straight singles after the first two outs in the first inning to put Houston up 1-0. From that point on, Greinke scattered five singles the rest of the way, with no Astros ever getting to second base.
The Royals tied the game in the second and then Billy Butler blasted a shot off the façade in left field past the Crawford Boxes for his seventh home run of the year.
Joakim Soria made it interesting in the 9 th giving up two hits, but he struck out two and got a tapper back to him to save Greinke’s 9 th win of the year.
Astros starter Russ Ortiz did alright holding the light hitting Royals to just five hits over seven innings while walking two and striking out six.
This was Greinke’s first win since May 26 th . This was the eighth time in 15 starts this season that the Royals have scored three or fewer runs in a game.