The Houston Astros won their 11th straight game overall on Monday, as well as their 11th straight road win.
Yuli Gurriel hit a three-run homer, Brian McCann had a two-run shot and the Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Monday night, a win that set the franchise record for most road wins in a row.
It’s the longest winning streak in the majors this season, one more than the Rangers 10 game win streak earlier this season, and one shy of the Astros’ record. They won 12 straight in 1999 and 2004. The teams 42-16 record is their best through 58 games since the teams 2001 season.
McCann homered in the fourth after Marwin Gonzalez walked to lead off the inning. He had been 1 for 16 in five games since returning from a concussion.
Gurriel homered in the ninth off Kelvin Herrera. He has gone deep in back-to-back games and has 10 RBIs during a six-game hitting streak.
McCann started a two-run second inning with a one-out double and scored on Nori Aoki’s single. Aoki was thrown out at second trying to stretch his single into a double. If he stayed at first, the second inning could have potentially been much more prolific George Springer’s two-out single scored Gurriel, who had walked, but unfortunately thrown out on a stolen base attempt(only his second attempt of the season believe it or not).
Mike Fiers, who is pitching for his job in the Astros’ rotation, went 5 innings, plus two batters. Fiers did a decent job, only giving up 7 hits while walking one, and only gave up two runs. Surprisingly, Fiers is 6-0 in his past 10 road games started, dating back to last season. Those two runs came in the second inning on a bloop single by Brandon Moss(hitting less than .190 on the year) and Alcides Escobar’s safety squeeze with two outs. The teams only other run came on a home run by rookie Jorge Bonifacio off of James Hoyte in the 7th inning.
The Royals 3 runs brought their season totals up to 198 runs scored, making them the only team to still sit below the 200 run plateau.
Ian Kennedy, who has yet to win a game this year(0-6) got the loss. Kennedy went just four innings, throwing 100+ pitches, giving up 4 runs, 6 hits, and 3 walks. Those walks doomed the Royals starting pitcher, with two of those three walks turning into runs for the Astros.
The Astros looks for their 12th straight win on Tuesday against Kansas City. David Paulino will make his second start of the season for the Astros, while Jake Junis will be on the mound for the Royals