HOUSTON — Collin McHugh rebounded from a nightmarish debut with seven scoreless innings as the Houston Astros won their home opener 8-2 over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night at Minute Maid Park.
Jose Altuve recorded his first multi-hit game of the season and combined with Colby Rasmus provided the sock the Astros needed to roll Royals right-hander Chris Young (0-2).
Rasmus homered while Altuve finished 3-for-4 with three runs, a walk, and an RBI. Every Houston starter excluding Carlos Gomez reached base, and six Astros drove in at least one run.
McHugh (1-1) scattered eight hits and issued just one walk against four strikeouts. The Royals (4-2) managed to push five runners into scoring position, but McHugh proved elusive throughout while matching the seven scoreless innings he tossed at Kansas City on May 27, 2014.
The Astros (3-4) slugged three doubles and two triples in addition to the Rasmus homer. Young surrendered six runs on nine hits and two walks, striking out four in 4 2/3 innings.
Making his first start in Houston since Sept. 20, 2014, when he pitched for the Mariners, Young was victimized by the Astros’ power as he was during that 10-1 loss two seasons ago.
Young fell into trouble with his first pitch, surrendering a sharp single to Altuve, who followed by swiping second base. That set the stage for Carlos Correa, who delivered the Astros a 1-0 lead with a double to right field.
Rasmus then drilled a 2-2 fastball into the upper deck in right field, his third home run of the season, boosting the Astros to a 3-0 advantage.
Houston posted another three-run inning in the fourth as four consecutive batters reached base. Altuve capped the rally with an RBI single that came on the heels of a Luis Valbuena double and a Jason Castro triple. Valbuena plated Preston Tucker, who walked with one out, and scored when Castro delivered his first extra-base hit of the year.
The early run support set the stage for McHugh to settle in. After allowing six runs (five earned) while recording just one out in his season debut against the Yankees, McHugh faced just two batters over the minimum through three innings and helped his cause by scurrying to first base to complete an inning-ending 3-6-1 double play in the fifth.
Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales slugged his second home run, a two-run shot off left-hander Tony Sipp, in the eighth.
NOTES: Astros rookie 1B Tyler White was selected the American League Player of the Week on Monday after a memorable first week in the majors. White hit .556/.597/1.167 with three home runs and nine RBIs over six games. … The Royals kicked off their 2016 road schedule against the Astros, the first game of a seven-game swing that concludes in Oakland. Kansas City began the night with the best road record in the majors (133-110) since the start of the 2013 season. … The Angels claimed RHP Danny Reynolds off waivers on Sunday after the Astros designated him for assignment last Thursday. Reynolds was originally removed from the roster to make room for RHP Chris Devenski. … Astros RHP Lance McCullers joined OF Evan Gattis at Double-A Corpus Christi on Monday night, both on rehab assignments. McCullers made his first rehab start as he makes his way back from right shoulder soreness.