Apr 11, 2024

How sweep it is: Royals use 9-run first to cruise past Astros 13-3, extend win streak to 7

Posted Apr 11, 2024 9:21 PM
Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown reacts after the Kansas City Royals score two of their nine runs in the first inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown reacts after the Kansas City Royals score two of their nine runs in the first inning of a baseball game in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. had four hits, including two home runs, and five RBIs and the Kansas City Royals used a nine-run first inning to defeat the Houston Astros 13-3 Thursday to complete a three-game sweep and extend their winning streak to seven games.

Vinnie Pasquantino, who came into Wednesday's game hitting .108 with no RBIs, was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and now is hitting .222 with eight RBIs.

The Royals completed a perfect seven-game homestand against the White Sox and Astros. It's just the third time in franchise history they've played at least seven games on a homestand without a loss. The other two: seven games in 1988 and eight games in 1985, the year they won their first World Series.

Brady Singer (2-0) allowed one run and five hits in five innings.

Hunter Brown (0-2) got only two outs, but allowed nine runs and 11 hits.

The Royals sent 15 men to the plate in the first inning, tying a club record with 11 hits in the inning (also set in 1986 and 2006). It was the second straight game they've batted around in an inning, sending 11 men to the plate in a seven-run inning Wednesday night.

Maikel Garcia (two singles), Witt (a single and a homer) and Pasquantino (two singles) each had two hits and two RBIs in the first inning. Everyone in the starting lineup had at least one hit in the inning except Kyle Isbel.

The Astros had baserunners in nearly every inning, but got only a solo home run in the fourth from Yainer Diaz and a pair of runs in the sixth, snapping a 19 1/3-inning scoreless streak by the Royals bullpen.

Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino hits a two-run single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino hits a two-run single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

UP NEXT

Royals will go on a six-game road trip to New York and Chicago. RHP Michael Wacha (1-0, 2.25 ERA) will start Friday against the Mets' RHP Luis Severino (0-1, 3.60 ERA).  First pitch at 6:10 pm with coverage beginning at 5:30 on KFEQ.