Royals nearly no-hit, battle back, but lose walk-off 3-2 to Astros

The offense didn’t exactly pick up the slack.

The Royals didn’t get a hit until the eighth inning, managed to tie the game up in the ninth, only to lose in the bottom of the inning on a walk-off RBI double by Jose Altuve to fall 3-2 to the Astros Friday night.

Seth Lugo started for the Royals and gave up a solo home run in the third to Ben Gamel, a 356-foot “blast” to left-center. He ran into a bit of trouble after that when he gave up a single to Mauricio Dubon and a squibber infield single (what is it with infield singles lately) to Jose Altuve. But he retired Yordan Alvarez and Yainer Diaz to end the threat. Lugo turned in his best start in nearly a month, going seven innings and allowing just the one run. His nine strikeouts were the most in a start since June 30 with just one walk in 93 pitches.

Astros starter Frmaber Valdez was pretty masterful all evening. He retired the first 15 batters he faced, taking a perfect game to the sixth inning when Dairon Blanco led off with a walk. The Royals did mount a bit of a rally in the seventh when Salvador Perez was hit by a pitch and Freddy Fermin walked, checking his swing on a 3-2 pitch (that replays showed he likely swung at). But Nick Loftin struck out ending and the Royals were still hitless.

The Astros pulled Valdez after seven innings and 98 pitches, and the Royals finally managed their first hit in the eighth off Hector Neris. Kyle Isbel singled with two outs, but was stranded at first to end the inning.

The Royals put in Carlos Hernandez in the eighth, and curiously moved Maikel Garcia to right field. The ball immediately found Garcia for an easy fly ball to begin the inning. But after a Diaz single, Victor Caratini lined one over Garcia’s head for a double to put runners at second and third. Jeremy Pena hit a sacrifice fly to plate another run and make it 2-0 Astros.

The Royals tied things up in the ninth off Astros closer Josh Hader, thanks to a timely error by shortstop Jeremy Pena. Paul DeJong followed up with a two-run home run to give Hader just his second blown save of the year.

James McArthur came on for the ninth and gave up a one-out single to Jake Meyers. He retired Jon Singleton and was one out away from pushing the game to extras, but Altuve lofted a high fly ball off the wall in left field, allowing Meyers to score easily to win the game.

The Royals fall to 75-61 and are now two games back of the Guardians, who won tonight. They will take on the Astros again tomorrow evening at 6:10 in a battle of lefties with Cole Ragans scheduled to face Yusei Kikuchi.