Houston's bats were silenced yet again on Wednesday afternoon, as Bruce Chen and the Kansas City Royals edged out the Astros, defeating Houston 2-1.
Chen pitched five and two thirds innings, giving up just one run on five hits, while issuing two walks and striking out six. Houston couldn't score off of Kansas City's reliever parade, as Kelvin Herrera, Jose Mijares, Greg Holland and Jon Broxton finished out the game for KC.
The Astros had Broxton in trouble in the ninth. Chris Snyder led off the inning with a single, before Matt Downs grounded into a fielder's choice. A one-out single by Jose Altuve put runners on the corners with one out, but Broxton struck out Brian Bixler for the second out, and induced a flyout by Jordan Schafer to end the game.
Justin Maxwell, who started the game in center for the Astros, left the game in the fourth inning because of a sprained left ankle.
Jordan Lyles fell to 1-4 on the season, despite pitching well. Lyles pitched seven innings, giving up just three hits, walking none and striking out four, while surrendering two runs.
Houston's bats struck out 14 times on Wednesday afternoon, and the failure to put the ball in play in the ninth inning certainly haunted Houston.
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