HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Collin McHugh was roughed up for a fourth straight start as the Astros saw the three game winning streak come to an end with a 12-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.
McHugh recorded just nine outs and allowed eight runs on seven hits. Over his last four starts, the Astros righthander is 0-3 with an ERA of 12.00.
Jorge Soler started the scoring in the second when he launched a 3-2 slider over the batter's eye in centerfield. The Royals added to their lead in the third when Adalberto Mondesi doubled home Whit Merrifield. Then with one out in the inning and the bases loaded, Ryan O'Hearn went deep on the first pitch he saw from McHugh to make it a 6-0 game. Merrifield's fourth inning RBI single knocked McHugh out of the game.
Chris Devenski replaced McHugh and surrendered an RBI triple to Hunter Dozier later in the inning to make it 8-0 Kansas City. Devenski didn't allow a run in the fifth, and after Framber Valdez tossed a scoreless sixth, Alex Bregman's 10th home run of the season put the Astros on the board, though the Royals answered against Valdez in the seventh when Merrfield hit their second grand slam of the night.
Danny Duffy was the beneficiary of all the offense for Kansas City. He earned his first win of the season, surrendering just the one run on six hits over 6.2 innings. He struck out five. He left with two on in the seventh, and the Astros scored their second run of the night when George Springer singled home Aledmys Diaz.
Merrfield finished 4-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored as the Royals improved to 13-24 on the season.
Michael Brantley was the only Astro to have a two hit night. Tyler White didn't have a hit in four at bats, but he did throw a scoreless ninth inning out of the Astros bullpen.
The Astros are now 21-15 on the season and will take a second shot at winning their series against the Royals Wednesday night when they send Brad Peacock to the mound against Jorge Lopez.