Royals Snap Astros' Win Streak, Jump All Over Javier

The magic could only run on for a limited time before Cristian Javier started to show signs of humanity. The Houston Astros starter had allowed only one hit in his last 14 innings prior to Wednesday's start against the Kansas City Royals, where he gave up three runs in the first inning alone.

Javier surrendered three home runs last night; the righty hadn't allowed more than one a game in his 11 previous starts. Working five innings, the righty yielded two more runs after the first inning before being given the hook at 95 pitches.

Extending the rocky start was ideal for manager Dusty Baker, whose bullpen lacked long relief options with Seth Martinez having thrown three innings Monday. Baker handed the ball to Bryan Abreu, who improved his ERA to 2.08 with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Ryne Stanek entered the seventh with one out. Bolstering his All-Star case, the righty threw a season-high 27 pitches, keeping alive his now 22 2/3 scoreless-inning streak. Héctor Neris was tacked for two more runs in the ninth, allowing the Royals' lead to grow to three.

Aledmys Díaz hit his second home run in two days Wednesday, clubbing a 343-foot shot at 93.7 mph off the bat in the sixth inning for his fifth of the year. The offense trailed by just one run following the sixth inning slam, but Mauricio Dubón stranded the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the inning.

The Astros lineup left seven runners on, ultimately falling 7-4 to the Royals. Star second baseman José Altuve and first baseman Yuli Gurriel were out of the lineup on scheduled rest days, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.

Dusty Baker called it a “manager’s decision” to sit Yuli Gurriel and Jose Altuve today. Gurriel’s “legs are sore” because he’s been running a lot, Baker said. Altuve just needed a day off. Sounds routine.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 6, 2022

Houston couldn't complete its fourth-consecutive comeback of the season Wednesday, falling to 53-28 on the year. The Astros look to win the home series at 1:10 p.m. Thursday with Justin Verlander toeing the rubber.

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