Astros win 2-1 on walk-off ninth inning home run

John Schreiber has a quick loss.

John Schreiber gave up a walk-off ninth inning home run to Isaac Paredes to give the Astros a 2-1 win Tuesday evening.

The Royals offense has been struggling, and it didn’t help to face one of the best pitchers in the game in Framber Valdez. He retired the first nine hitters of the game. He was sharp all night, going eight innings with just one run allowed, and sprinkling six hits.

The Royals scored their only run in the fifth. Maikel Garcia led off the inning with a walk and moved to third on a Vinnie Pasquantino single. Freddy Fermin singled to drive him home and up the Royals on the board.

Of course, the rally was quickly snuffed out by a Hunter Renfroe double play.

Meanwhile, Kris Bubic was sharp all night. His only blemish was a Jeremy Pena solo home run to lead off the sixth. He gave up just six hits and was lifted in the seventh with one out, the sixth time in nine starts he has gone 6+ innings. He also tied a career high with nine strikeouts, and he lowered his ERA to 1.66.

Lucas Erceg needed only 12 pitches to retire five hitters to get through the seventh and eighth with a 1-1 tie. The Astros finally lifted Valdez in the ninth for reliever Bryan Abreu, but the Royals went quietly in order. Schreiber came in for the ninth, and lasted just two pitches before Paredes won the game.

The series is now tied and the Royals fall to 25-19. They can still take the series tomorrow evening when Michael Lorenzen starts against lefty Colton Gordon, who will be making his MLB debut.