Lance McCullers has been a pleasant surprise in in the Astros rotation. (Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports)
HOUSTON — Rookie right-hander Lance McCullers capped a stellar month with seven strong innings and the Houston Astros added to their major league-leading total of multi-home run games in their 6-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night at Minute Maid Park.
McCullers (4-2) allowed a solo home run to Royals catcher Salvador Perez leading off the seventh, his lone blemish on an otherwise spectacular ledger. McCullers allowed four hits and two walks while recording six strikeouts, retiring 11 of 12 batters during one key stretch.
McCullers closed June with a 2.11 ERA, the lowest ERA in June by an Astros rookie since right-hander Darryl Kyle posted a 1.80 ERA in 1990. In six of his nine starts, McCullers has allowed one earned run or less.
With second baseman Jose Altuve and first baseman Chris Carter clubbing their seventh and 14th home runs, respectively, in the third and fifth innings, the Astros (45-34) improved to 30-3 in games in which they’ve hit multiple homers. Altuve matched his career high for homers.
The Royals (44-29) played without shortstop Alcides Escobar and first baseman Eric Hosmer, both of whom were out with hand injuries. Kansas City managed just two extra-base hits: the Perez home run, his 13th, and a leadoff double from center fielder Jarrod Dyson in the first.
Royals right-hander Joe Blanton provided Kansas City with a pleasant surprise with a pair of solid starts entering Monday night, and after he set the Astros down in order in the first inning, he appeared set to continue his exceptional pitching.
But when things started to slip in the second, Blanton had himself to blame. He issued three consecutive walks in that frame. Combine that stretch of wildness with an infield single from third baseman Luis Valbuena and a sacrifice fly by catcher Jason Castro, and the Astros led 2-0.
When outfielders Preston Tucker and Domingo Santana collected back-to-back RBI singles in the third inning, Blanton departed. He had already surrendered a leadoff hit in a second consecutive frame, this time a solo home run by Altuve for a 3-0 deficit.
Houston upped its lead to 5-0 when Tucker and Santana drove home Valbuena and designated hitter Jon Singleton, saddling Blanton with five earned runs on five hits and four walks over 2 2/3 innings.
McCullers handled the prosperity well. He needed 39 pitches to complete his first two innings, but he followed that bumpy start by facing the minimum over the next three frames, inducing an inning-ending double play grounder from Royals shortstop Christian Colon to cap the fifth.
NOTES: Royals SS Alcides Escobar was a late scratch. He suffered a fingernail injury Sunday against the Athletics. Christian Colon replaced Escobar defensively while CF Jarrod Dyson moved from No. 9 to the leadoff spot in the batting order. … Astros OF Jake Marisnick completed agility drills and continues to progress in dealing with a left hamstring strain that landed him on the 15-day disabled list on June 19. Marisnick will continue to participate in baseball activities and is on target to be sent out for a rehab assignment. … Royals 1B Eric Hosmer is likely to miss this series after suffering a sprained left ring finger while sliding on Saturday. Hosmer went 0-for-3 on Sunday against the Oakland Athletics before departing after having difficulty throwing the ball and swinging a bat. … Astros INF Jed Lowrie has started taking ground balls and continues to ramp up physical activities with his hands. Lowrie was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 28 after surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb.
