By MATT PIKE
In a season filled with woes, the Kansas City Royals are now nearly officially eliminated from playoff contention falling to the Houston Astros in their series opener at Daikin Park 4-2.
The loss to the Astros officially eliminated the Royals from winning the American League Central, and knocked their elimination number in the American League Wildcard to one, a loss tomorrow officially eliminating them from playoff contention.
Two early home runs from Jeremy Peña put the Royals behind. Peña hit Royals starter Michael Wacha’s first pitch over the wall in left-center field for his first home run since August 30th to leadoff the game for the Astros. Then, with one out in the third, Peña connected off Wacha again with a shot to the seats in left to make it 2-0 and give him his fifth career multi-home run game.
Kansas City cut the lead to one in the top half of the fifth inning, finally getting to Astros starter Hunter Brown for just his second surrendered hit in the game. He had allowed just one hit when he walked Isaac Collins with two outs, and after Collins stole second base, Carter Jensen’s double to left field sent him home. In the bottom half of the inning though, Peña got to Wacha again, singling with two outs, and Yordan Alvarez followed with his two run home run to right field. Alvarez's 39 home runs are a new career best and only trail the Rays' Junior Caminero by two for the American League lead.
Wacha exited after the sixth inning, taking the loss and falling to 9-9 on the season, giving up four hits and four runs while striking out two and walking one as the Royals lost their third straight game. Lucas Erceg and Jose Cuas pitched two hitless innings of relief, striking out a combined three and walking one. In the top of the sixth inning, Vinnie Pasquantino homered off Bennett Sousa with two outs to cut the lead in half, the Royals managed just one more hit however off closer Josh Hader, on way to the loss.
At the plate the Royals had just four hits on the night. Pasquantino was 1-for-3 with the home run and an RBI striking out twice. Jensen was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Bobby Witt Jr and pinch hitter Salvador Perez also each had a hit, with Witt Jr adding a stolen base.
Kansas City and Houston continue their series tomorrow. Daniel Lynch IV (5-5, 3.52 ERA, 49Ks) starts for the Royals against Cristian Javier (2-5, 5.50 ERA, 55Ks) for the Astros. First pitch is at 7:10pm, pregame will air at 6:30pm on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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