HOUSTON (AP) — Ian Kennedy threw seven strong innings, Eric Hosmer hit a two-run double during a five-run sixth and the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros 6-2 on Thursday night.
Kennedy (2-0) started with five hitless innings and retired 14 straight before Carlos Gomez's leadoff single to center in the sixth. Kennedy struck out seven and allowed a run on two hits and two walks.
Mike Moustakas hit a solo homer in the first and went 2 for 4 with a walk.
Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain, Alex Gordon and Omar Infante each had two hits and the Royals set a season high with 13 hits. The defending World Series champs are 7-2 after winning the final three games of the four-game set with the Astros.
The Royals' offense came alive with two outs in the sixth. Hosmer hit his double, Kendrys Morales and Gordon followed with RBI doubles and then Salvador Perez hit an RBI single to make it 6-0.
Jose Altuve had two hits for Houston, including a solo home run to lead off the seventh. Carlos Correa had an RBI single in the ninth.
After Houston put runners on first and second with one out in the ninth, Wade Davis induced a double play for his fourth save.
Doug Fister (1-1) allowed six runs on nine hits with two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. He had settled down after the first inning to retire 13 straight before the sixth inning.
Houston is 3-7 and in its second three-game losing streak already this season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Royals: OF Jarod Dyson (right oblique strain) had Thursday off while he continues his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha. Dyson had played both Tuesday and Wednesday and is 4 for 13 in four games.
WEB GEM
Following Gomez's single in the sixth, Marwin Gonzalez blooped one into shallow center field. Alcides Escobar made a sliding over the shoulder catch, hopped up and fired to first to double Gomez off.
UP NEXT
Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez (1-0) starts the first game of a three-game series at Oakland on Friday night. Volquez struck out 10 in his last start Sunday against Minnesota.
Astros: LHP Dallas Keuchel (1-1) makes his first home start of the year Friday when Houston starts a three-game series against the Tigers. Keuchel will look to rebound from his last start Sunday, when he allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings with six walks. He has walked 10 in two starts this season.
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