Zack Greinke finally beat his old club and Yordan Álvarez belted a pinch-hit three-run homer as the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 6-1 on Saturday night.
Alex Bregman hit his 36th homer and rookie Kyle Tucker was 4-for-4 for the AL West-leading Astros.
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Zack Greinke finally beat his old club and Yordan Álvarez belted a pinch-hit three-run homer as the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 6-1 on Saturday night.
This was the fifth start by Greinke against the Royals since they traded him after the 2010 season. Oddly, all five were at Kauffman Stadium and each was for a different team — the Brewers, Angels, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Astros. He was 0-2 in the first four starts.
Tim Hill bailed out Royals starter Mike Montgomery (3-9) in the sixth inning after the Astros went ahead 2-1 on a walk and singles by Yuli Gurriel and Tucker. An error by second baseman Nicky Lopez loaded the bases with no outs. Hill got a strikeout, a popup and a flyout to strand all three runners.
One night after left fielder Alex Gordon and manager Ned Yost were ejected by plate umpire Lance Barrett for remarks about his ball-and-strike calls, Royals bench coach Dale Sveum was ejected by Guccione while the Astros were batting in the second inning.
Pérez, who underwent preseason Tommy John surgery on his right arm, will not play any winter ball.
"He's going to stay in Round Rock for a couple days," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "He worked out today at the field and we have some staff there, we did keep a player back to throw batting practice to him tomorrow. We'll bring him to Houston and evaluate him and, if all goes well, we'll continue his rehab in the big leagues."
Greinke (16-5) went six innings and handed a 2-1 lead to the bullpen. Héctor Rondón, Joe Smith, Bryan Abreu and Will Harris combined for three scoreless innings. Greinke gave up one run, six hits and no walks. He struck out seven.
Kansas City Royals pitcher Mike Montgomery throws during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Houston Astros on wSaturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
This was the fifth start by Greinke against the Royals since they traded him after the 2010 season. Oddly, all five were at Kauffman Stadium and each was for a different team — the Brewers, Angels, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Astros. He was 0-2 in the first four starts.
After reliever Gabe Speier gave up Tucker's fourth single and walked Robinson Chirinos in the eighth, Álvarez batted for Abraham Toro. Álvarez sent his 25th homer soaring over the center-field wall.
Chirinos singled in the Astros' sixth run in the ninth.
Kansas City Royals right fielder Ryan McBroom catches a fly ball for the out on Houston Astros' Alex Bregman during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
Tim Hill bailed out Royals starter Mike Montgomery (3-9) in the sixth inning after the Astros went ahead 2-1 on a walk and singles by Yuli Gurriel and Tucker. An error by second baseman Nicky Lopez loaded the bases with no outs. Hill got a strikeout, a popup and a flyout to strand all three runners.
Lopez ended a 0-for-22 skid with an infield single to start the third inning. Whit Merrifield followed with a drive that bounced off the left-field bullpen fence. Lopez, running from first, made a headlong dive for the plate past catcher Chirinos' foot but was called out by plate umpire Chris Guccione. The Royals issued a replay challenge, and Lopez was ruled safe — not only did he touch the plate before the tag, but Chirinos illegally blocked home before catching the ball.
Bregman tied it by leading off the fourth inning with a blast to left field.
Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez, right, celebrates with Kyle Tucker (3) and Robinson Chirinos (28) after hitting a three-run home run during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
One night after left fielder Alex Gordon and manager Ned Yost were ejected by plate umpire Lance Barrett for remarks about his ball-and-strike calls, Royals bench coach Dale Sveum was ejected by Guccione while the Astros were batting in the second inning.
PROGRESS CONTINUES
Catcher Salvador Pérez, out for the season, is on track to return to the Royals' lineup in 2020. Before batting practice Saturday, he blocked pitches aimed into the dirt from a machine, fired hard throws into coach Pedro Grifol's glove and even took ground balls at first base. He's also been catching bullpen sessions and has been hitting balls off a tee and from short tosses.
Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates with Robinson Chirinos (28) after hitting a three-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
Pérez, who underwent preseason Tommy John surgery on his right arm, will not play any winter ball.
ASTROS MAP CORREA RETURN
Shortstop Carlos Correa, out since Aug. 20 with a back ailment, had his latest injury rehab with Triple-A Round Rock ended after one game. That's because the Express were eliminated in the playoffs Friday night by the Sacramento River Cats.
Houston Astros' Alex Bregman runs home to score after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
"He's going to stay in Round Rock for a couple days," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "He worked out today at the field and we have some staff there, we did keep a player back to throw batting practice to him tomorrow. We'll bring him to Houston and evaluate him and, if all goes well, we'll continue his rehab in the big leagues."
In 72 games, Correa is batting .278 with 19 homers and 56 RBIs.
UP NEXT
Kansas City Royals' Nicky Lopez scores against Houston Astros catcher Robinson Chirinos on a double by Whit Merrifield during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. Lopez was originally called out, but the ruling was changed after review. (AP PhotoCharlie Riedel)
The series concludes Sunday when RHP Jakob Junis (9-13, 5.06 ERA) faces the Astros, who pounded him for three homers and five runs in a May 6 loss at Houston. LHP Wade Miley (13-5, 3.74) has a 4-2 career record in six previous starts against the Royals but has not faced them since 2016, when he was with Seattle.
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