Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Jason Michaels drove in three runs and Roy Oswalt was solid in seven innings on the mound, as the Houston Astros defeated the Kansas City Royals, 4-2, in the second test of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium. Oswalt (5-8) gave up two runs on six hits to pick up his second straight win. The three-time NL All-Star also fanned seven batters and walked one. Matt Lindstrom recorded his 15th save of the year. Carlos Lee knocked in a run for the Astros, who snapped a four-game skid. David DeJesus went 4-for-4 with an RBI for the Royals, who won 15-7 in the series opener. Jason Kendall drove in the other run in defeat. Bruce Chen (3-1) allowed four runs -- three earned -- on five hits in 5 2/3 frames to suffer his first loss of the season. The well-traveled southpaw also struck out six and walked three. The start of the game was delayed 1 hour, 25 minutes due to rain. The Astros got on the board in the top of the first. Jeff Keppinger hit a one- out double and came around to score two batters later on Lee's base hit. The Royals responded with a run of their own in the home half. Scott Podsednik led off with a triple and came around to score on Kendall's sacrifice fly. Kansas City added another run in the third to go in front, 2-1. Podsednik singled, stole second, moved to third on Kendall's groundout and scored on DeJesus' single. Houston plated two runs in the fourth to take a 3-2 edge. Lance Berkman walked, Hunter Pence singled, andPedro Feliz reached first on right fielder Mitch Maier's fielding error to load the bases with one out. Michaels stepped to the plate and laced a two-run single up the middle. The Astros added another run in the sixth. Berkman and Lee walked to start before the next two batters were retired. Michaels, though, came through with an RBI double to left. Kyle Farnsworth relieved Chen and struck out Tommy Manzella to limit the damage. Kansas City won two of three bouts from Houston when these teams met at Minute Maid Park last season. The Astros, however, are 6-2 all-time as the visitor in this series...The Royals placed pitcher Luke Hochevar on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, retroactive to June 12, with a right elbow strain. To fill the roster spot, the Royals recalled pitcher Anthony Lerew from Triple-A Omaha. In addition, the club released pitcher John Parrish...Kansas City has been selected to host the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game...Houston had lost six straight interleague games...Jose Guillen of the Royals extended his hitting streak to 11 games...Chen fell to 1-1 lifetime versus the Astros.
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