Astros Hitting Slump Continues. Lose fourth straight to Royals 3-2

It’s not a game of inches. It’s a game of millimeters.

After another flat game, the Astros came to life in the ninth inning with three straight singles. Unfortunately, after Jose Altuve’s single, Chaz McCormick was thrown out by a hair at home by Andrew Benintendi, ending the game and sealing the Astros’ fourth straight loss.

The Astros’ only run came in the seventh on a two-run, pinch-hit single by Jason Castro. It put the Astros in the lead temporarily 2-1.

However, the Royals took the lead in the bottom of the seventh on a monster, Hunter Dozier, two-run homer off Blake Taylor, who had just come in for starter Zack Greinke.

Greinke was solid, allowing only one run in six innings on five hits, no walks, and ... no strikeouts. His only blemish was three straight singles in the fourth producing the one run against him.

On the bright side, rookie Jake Meyers remains hot, going two for three with a walk. His 1.030 OPS leads the team and is also the best OPS for any player since his call-up on August 1, just nudging out Yordan Alvarez.

Fellow rookie Chaz McCormick was 2 - 4.

Alvarez was 0 - 4 but flirted with opposite-field homers on two of his ABs.

This third loss to the Royals continues the Astros’ woes against second division teams. They will try to salvage one win in this four-game series tomorrow at 1:10 CDT.

Luis Garcia goes for the Stros.

Box score and videos here.