Jul 26, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales (25) connects for a single in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Yordano Ventura outdueled Dallas Keuchel as the Kansas City Royals whipped the Houston Astros on 5-1 Sunday afternoon.
Ventura (5-7) threw 97 pitches in seven innings, giving up a run on six hits. He walked none, hit a batter and struck out five.
Not only the Royals get a solid start from Ventura, they picked up an ace, acquiring Johnny Cueto in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds for three minor league left-handed pitchers on Sunday.
Keuchel, who threw eight scoreless innings to beat the Royals 4-0 on June 30 in Houston, surrendered five runs on 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
The Royals went 4-3 the past seven games against Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Houston and own the best record in the American League, 59-38. They have a 7 1/2 game over the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.
Keuchel, who was Royals manager Ned Yost’s choice to be the American League starter in the All-Star Game, was roughed up for four runs in the first inning.
He gave up three hits on three successive pitches — a bunt single by shortstop Alcides Escobar and singles by center fielder Lorenzo Cain and designated hitter Kendrys Morales — to load the bases with none out.
It appeared Keuchel would wiggle out of the mess when Escobar and Cain were thrown out at the plate on fielder’s-choice grounders.
However, second baseman Omar Infante stroked a ground-ball single to left to bring home two runners. Third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert, who has hit safely in all five of his big league games, smashed a double down the left-field line to drive in two more runs.
The Astros got a run back in the second. Designated hitter Evan Gattis led off the inning with his sixth triple and scored on right fielder Colby Rasmus’ single.
Cain belted his 11th home run in the second to push the Royals’ advantage to 5-1.
Ventura was sent to the minors Tuesday and brought back Wednesday after a season-ending elbow injury to left-hander Jason Vargas.
NOTES: Royals manager Ned Yost opted to give 1B Eric Hosmer and 3B Mike Moustakas a breather, holding them out of the starting lineup Sunday against Astros LHP Dallas Keuchel. Also, Salvador Perez was the DH with Drew Butera catching RHP Yordano Ventura for the first time. … Marwin Gonzalez made his eighth Astros’ start at first base. He had never started at first base before this season. He started nine games at second, 12 at third and 25 at shortstop. … After playing 17 of their past 22 games at home, the Royals play their next 10 on the road with RHP Edinson Volquez starting Monday at Cleveland. The Indians will start RHP Cody Anderson. … The Astros are off Monday before opening a three-game series Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park with first place in the AL West up for grabs.
