Astros finally win! Beat Royals 6-3 in extras to avoid sweep

With a remarkable bullpen performance and with heroic at-bats from Aledmys Díaz and Chas McCormick, the Astros defeated the Royals 6-3 in 10 innings to avoid been swept in the four-game series at Kauffman Stadium.

Astros’ starter Luis García struggled to hold rival hitters and allowed three earned runs in the first third of the game, with the Royals up 3-0. In the top fourth, McCormick beat the throw by the third baseman and recorded an RBI forceout to bring in the first run of the game for the Astros.

After one out in the sixth, Houston got three consecutive hits: Carlos Correa singled, Díaz doubled to drive in Correa, and McCormick followed him with a double of his own to tie the game.

With García gone after five innings of four-hit, three-run ball, it was time for the bullpen guys. Phil Maton continued his good stint with the Astros, adding two hitless frames of one walk and one punchout.

Ryne Stanek followed him with three strikeouts and a single allowed in the eighth, and closer Ryan Pressly got out of a two-out jam with runners in scoring position. The veteran righty retired Hanser Alberto to end the ninth and send it to extras.

With Wade Davis on the mound for the Royals and Yuli Gurriel starting the inning at second base for Houston, Yordan Álvarez hit a single to leave men at third and first. Carlos Correa walked to load the bases and serve the table for Aledmys Díaz, who launched his third hit of the afternoon to drive in his countryman Gurriel.

Still with bases loaded, McCormick drew a walk and forced in another run to make it 5-3. To end the inning with an even bigger lead, Taylor Jones recorded a sac fly. It was already just a matter of seconds with Cristian Javier on the mound for the bottom 10th. Javier came in and accounted for his second save of the season with a 1-2-3 episode.

This way, the Astros end the road trip and will head back to Minute Maid Park to host the Mariners. Both teams will meet for a three-game series that will have Lance McCullers Jr. and Yusei Kikuchi on the mound for the first contest, which is expected to start at 7:10 pm CT this Friday.

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