Not even a series opener against the Houston Astros, who have the worst record in baseball with Miami, could help the Royals get out of their funk. Matt Dominguez hit a three-run homer and Jason Castro added a solo shot to give Houston a 6-5 win over the Royals on Monday night.
Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie (5-2) allowed eight hits and a season-high six runs in five innings, during his shortest start of the season. He had gone 18 games without a loss before allowing 19 hits and 11 runs in the past two games to lose two straight.
Trailing 3-1, the Royals got to Houston starter Dallas Kuechel for three runs in the fourth…ending a 36-inning slump where the Royals didn’t score more than one run in an inning. Salvador Perez singled to start the inning before a one out single by Jeff Francoeur, (who ended an 0 for 11 drought). Miguel Tejada followed with a three-run shot to the Crawford Boxes in left field and gave the Royals a 4-3 lead.
The Astros answered in the bottom of the inning when Dominguez launched his fourth homer of the season in left field to give Houston a 6-4 lead.
The loss sends the Royals (20-21) five games behind Detroit in the AL Central.