KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Houston Astros keep finding ways to win, while the Kansas City Royals keep inventing ways to lose.
Carlos Correa and the Astros won their 11th straight game, finishing off a dominant 10-0 road trip by rallying past the Royals 7-4 Sunday.
The World Series champion Astros swept their swing through Texas, Oakland and Kansas City, outscoring opponents 74-35.
Last season, Houston had an 11-game winning streak end in Kansas City. This time, the Astros trailed 4-3 in the eighth inning before Correa led off with a tying homer. Evan Gattis, who had three hits, then put them ahead during a three-run burst.
”We just have a great team. It’s hard to find any holes on this team. I don’t think there are any,” Correa said.
Correa has three home runs and eight RBIs in six games after missing four games with discomfort in his right side. He had a first-inning single and added a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
Gattis hit .366 with five home runs and 19 RBIs on the Astros’ trip. He singled home Yuli Gurriel in the eighth, and Marvin Gonzalez added an RBI single in the inning.
”I take confidence in our lineup versus anybody,” Gattis said.
The Royals have lost six straight and 12 of 13. They have dropped 26 of 36 home games.
Brandon Maurer (0-3) took the loss, facing two batters and having both score. Tony Sipp (2-0) picked up the victory. Hector Rondon closed for his fourth save.
Astros right-hander Lance McCullers struck out nine over six innings, allowing two unearned runs.
”I didn’t want to blow it,” McCullers said of the winning streak.
Royals right-hander Brad Keller, a Rule 5 draft pick making his fourth start, gave up three runs in six innings.
”I felt like I did pretty well,” Keller said. ”That’s a good-hitting team and they got pop, so to keep them on the ground I’m happy with that.”
Third baseman Alex Bregman’s errant throw home with the bases loaded led to the Royals scoring two unearned runs in the first to tie it at 2. Hunter Dozier hit a two-run homer in the third to give the Royals a 4-2 lead.
Brian McCann’s two-out single in the fourth scored Gattis to reduce the Royals’ lead to one.
ROYALS OUSTER
Royals DH Mike Moustakas and LHP Danny Duffy were ejected by plate umpire John Tumpane. Moustakas was ejected for words said from the dugout after he was out at home while trying to score from second on a single. A video replay upheld the call on the field. Duffy was thumbed in the sixth for his dugout verbiage. It was the Royals’ first ejections this season.
”I saw a gesture over to me. I think that was my warning,” Moustakas said. ”I said something after that and that’s when he tossed me. I thought I was safe and I still think I’m safe. I think if he called me safe originally, I don’t think they can overcome that.”
Tumpane has a history with the Royals – he tossed RHP Peter Moylan last July and Moustakas and manager Ned Yost in August in Baltimore.
ATTENDANCE DROP-OFF
After 36 home games, the Royals attendance is down 212,572 from last year. They drew 958,297 for 36 home games in 2017. This year that total is 737,725.
ROSTER MOVES
The Royals recalled INF Adalberto Mondesi, who is the only player to make his big league debut in the World Series, was recalled from Triple-A Omaha. The Royals also summoned OF Rosell Herrera and RHP Wily Peralta from the Storm Chasers. They optioned RHP Scott Barlow and INF Ramon Torres to Omaha and transferred LHP Eric Skoglund to the 60-day disabled list.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Royals: 2B Whit Merrifield left in the second inning after fouling a pitch off his left knee. He has a contusion and is listed as day-to-day. Mondesi replaced him.
UP NEXT
Astros: RHP Gerrit Cole will start on Monday as they return home to face Tampa Bay. Cole is 8-1 with a 2.40 ERA.
Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy, who has won one of his last 27 home starts, will start the opener of a three-game series against the Rangers on Monday. Bartolo Colon will be the Texas probable.
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