Houston’s power hitters punished a vulnerable Seth Lugo, launching four home runs to dismantle the Royals as Kansas City’s offense struggled to capitalize on early bases-loaded opportunities.
The Kansas City Royals fell 6-2 to the Houston Astros on Thursday night as the Astros push toward the postseason and currently lead the Texas Rangers in the AL West.
Seth Lugo started for Kansas City and was punished relentlessly, with it all starting on his first pitch. Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña launched Lugo’s first offering deep over the Crawford boxes in left field, tying the game at 1.
Daulton Varsho then added a solo home run in the second inning. Outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. left the yard to right field in the fifth inning for a 3-1 lead, and Yordan Alvarez hit his 40th home run of the season in the same inning.
Those four home runs are the most Lugo has allowed in a game this season, and the most since the Royals' 4-1 loss to the New York Yankees on April 14, 2025. He’s allowed four home runs in a start three times in his career.
Lugo was pulled after throwing five innings and 76 pitches, allowing four earned runs and eight hits. Aside from the home run on four pitches, Lugo would have had a solid outing. He would have had some more offensive support if the Royals had more competitive at-bats early. Astros starter Miguel Ullola had a horrendous start, walking two batters in a row and then hitting Jac Caglianone with a pitch. The Royals had the bases loaded with nobody out, and third baseman Maikel Garcia grounded into a double play, scoring a run. A ground out got the Astros out of trouble, limiting the damage.
Kansas City didn’t record their first hit until the sixth inning when Carter Jensen singled up the middle. Salvador Perez had multiple hard-hit balls before that, but Astros players made good defensive plays on them.
Astros reliever Ethan Pecko helped retire 14 straight Royals hitters after entering in the third inning. Pecko was stellar, throwing 5.2 innings, allowing three hits and one earned run, and striking out four.
With a 4-1 lead, LaMonte Wade Jr. doubled with two outs, pushing Taylor Trammell to third. Jeremy Peña then hit a ground ball to Maikel Garcia, who, playing back, bounced a throw to Salvador Perez at first. Perez couldn’t handle the short hop, and the Astros scored an insurance run in the sixth inning.
Carter Jensen added an RBI in the 8th inning, making it his seventh straight game with an RBI. Taylor Trammell homered in the eighth inning, helping the Astros win 6-2.
The Royals were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention earlier this week.
