Jordan Lyles showcased his pitching prowess, conceding only two hits in a five-inning performance. Meanwhile, Bobby Witt Jr. continued his impressive season by driving in his 93rd run, propelling the Kansas City Royals to a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.
Astros manager Dusty Baker expressed his frustration, likening their recent struggles to a recurring nightmare. Despite their relentless effort, the Astros faced difficulties scoring runs, especially with runners in scoring position. Baker remained optimistic, believing they were on the brink of breaking through but couldn’t quite seal the deal.
The Astros’ woes continued as they suffered their fourth loss in five games, causing their home record to dip to 39-41 for the season. Nevertheless, they managed to maintain a slim half-game lead for the final AL wild-card spot over the Seattle Mariners, who earlier fell to the Texas Rangers with a score of 2-0.
Alex Bregman, who went 0 for 3 in the game, bluntly admitted, “It feels like we’re playing terrible.” The frustration in the Astros’ camp was palpable.
On the flip side, the Royals were riding a wave of success, securing nine wins in their last ten games—an achievement not seen since July 20-30, 2017. This victory also marked their fourth consecutive series win for the first time since 2019. Royals manager Matt Quatraro emphasized the importance of such wins in building the confidence of their young and inexperienced team.
Pitcher Jordan Lyles (5-17) was in top form, limiting the Astros to just one hit in the first four innings while recording three strikeouts and two walks. It was his best performance since July 17 when he held the Detroit Tigers to no runs and three hits, although he ended up with a no-decision in that game.
Lyles commented on his battle against the formidable Astros lineup, acknowledging their quality but expressing satisfaction with his five scoreless innings. He praised the team’s collective effort and expressed his willingness to repeat such performances.
Taylor Clarke closed out the game, earning his third save of the season. Quatraro praised Clarke’s ability to consistently deliver quality pitches in a crucial situation.
The Royals wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Maikel Garcia led off the game with an infield single, stole second base, and advanced to third on a throwing error by Astros catcher Yanier Diaz. Garcia then scored on a sacrifice fly by M.J. Melendez, giving the Royals a 1-0 lead. Notably, Kansas City leads the American League in sacrifice flies this season with 56, second only to the Dodgers (66) in the majors.
In the fifth inning, with the bases loaded, Bobby Witt Jr. reached base on a fielder’s choice, driving in Nick Pratto. A wild pitch by J.P. France later in the inning allowed Kyle Isbel to score, extending the Royals’ lead to 3-0.
France, who started for the Astros, gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings. He walked one batter and struck out five. France expressed satisfaction with his performance, particularly pleased with his ability to generate strikeouts against the Royals.
Astros reliever Bryan Abreu continued his impressive streak by striking out the side in the eighth inning, extending his scoreless innings streak to a major league-best 24 innings. During this remarkable run, Abreu struck out 28 batters.
Trailing 3-0, Chas McCormick ignited the Astros’ hopes in the seventh inning by launching a 418-foot home run into the left-field train tracks. This marked McCormick’s second consecutive game with a home run.
The Astros continued to chip away at the lead in the eighth inning, with back-to-back doubles by Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker bringing the score to 3-2. Alvarez’s double also extended his streak of reaching base safely to 29 games.
Despite the tough loss, the Astros achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 3 million fans in attendance for the fifth time in franchise history and the first time since 2007, with 41,692 fans present on Saturday night.
In injury news, Royals catcher Salvador Perez, who had been dealing with a concussion, was expected to return to the lineup on Sunday, according to manager Matt Quatraro. On the Astros side, outfielder Michael Brantley remained out of the lineup for a fifth consecutive game due to right shoulder soreness.
The game was a rollercoaster of emotions for both teams, showcasing the unpredictable nature of baseball and the resilience required to compete at the highest level of the sport.
