Dexter Fowler scores in the fourth inning for Houston. (photo/MLB)
Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie has not won a game in his last nine starts. The offensive support hasn’t been there and Tuesday night was more of the same for Guthrie. The Royals were held to five hits and didn’t draw a walk as they were beat by the lowly Houston Astros, 3-0 at Kauffman Stadium.
After starting the season 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA, Collin McHugh has gone 0-3 with a 5.16 ERA in his last four starts. However, he was back in April form as he went seven innings scattering five hits and striking out nine. He stranded a runner at third base in the second inning and runners at second and third in the fifth, but otherwise was in command. The Astros are in last place in the American League, but have put together a four-game win streak.
The only run Guthrie allowed came when Matt Dominguez followed up a pair of one-out walks to Dexter Fowler and Jason Castro with a single in the fourth inning. During this nine-start winless drought, Guthrie has allowed just one run on three occasions. The Royals lost for the sixth time in their last eight games.