KEUCHEL, 'STROS WIN CG BATTLE
Springer's Debut HR Is Game-Winner
HOUSTON, Apr. 16 (AP) - In a game that felt as thought it was being played in an
earlier era, Dallas Keuchel tossed a complete game four-hit shutout, leading the
Houston Astros past the Kansas City Royals 1-0 at Minute Maid Park.
Keuchel's effort was a touch better than Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie, who
allowed three hits in an eight-inning complete game effort of his own.
Entering this contest, the major leagues as a whole had seen just four complete
games in 420 starts.
The game's only run was courtesy of Astros right fielder George Springer, whose
opposite field home run came with two outs in the bottom of the third inning of
his major league debut. The home run was Guthrie's only real mistake in a
brilliant performance: three hits, one walk and nine strikeouts.
After Springer's home run, Guthrie retired 16 of the final 17 batters he faced.
Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer singled with one out in the first inning, and
Keuchel didn't yield another hit until Danny Valencia led off the eighth with a
base hit. But Kansas City's first scoring threat actually came in the top
of the sixth. Lorenzo Cain opened the inning by reaching on an error
committed by first baseman Jesus Guzman, who muffed Cain's slow roller up the
first base line. Keuchel then walked Alcides Escobar--one of two free
passes issued by the left-hander--to put runners on first and second with no
outs. But Omar Infante grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, moving Cain to
third with two outs, and Hosmer popped to third to end the inning.
In the eighth, Valencia's single opened the frame; he was replaced at first by
pinch runner Jarrod Dyson, who promptly stole second. But Keuchel fanned
Justin Maxwell for the first out, then retired Cain and Escobar on consecutive
grounders to shortstop Marwin Gonzalez to escape damage.
Keuchel took a two-hitter into the top of the ninth, but immediately ran into
trouble. Infante led off by looping a single to left and Hosmer rolled a
single through the box, advancing Infante to third. The Astros had their
overworked bullpen up and going and manager Bo Porter came to the mound to talk
with Keuchel but elected to stick with his starter. Houston brought the
infield in, attempting to cut off the tying run rather than playing for a
possible twin killing and it paid off when Salvador Perez chopped a grounder to
second that Jose Altuve fielded and gunned to the plate to cut down Infante.
Billy Butler followed with a soft grounder to short, allowing the runners to
advance to second and third while Gonzalez took the out at first. That
brought Alex Gordon to the plate. Keuchel fell behind 3-1 but got Gordon
on a grounder to third to end the game and preserve the shutout.
After opening the season with 11 consecutive losses, the Astros have won three
of their last four games.
4/16/2014, KC14-Hou14, Minute Maid Park 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E LOB DP 2014 Royals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 5 0 2014 Astros 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 x 1 3 1 3 2 Royals AB R H BI AVG Astros AB R H BI AVG Infante 2b 4 0 1 0 .388 Fowler cf 3 0 0 0 .293 Hosmer 1b 4 0 2 0 .263 Springer rf 3 1 1 1 .333 Perez,S c 4 0 0 0 .235 Castro,J c 3 0 0 0 .170 Butler,B dh 4 0 0 0 .170 Altuve 2b 3 0 1 0 .393 Gordon,A lf 3 0 0 0 .208 Guzman 1b 3 0 1 0 .250 Valencia 3b 3 0 1 0 .111 Krauss dh 3 0 0 0 .103 Dyson,J pr 0 0 0 0 .333 Dominguez,M 3b 3 0 0 0 .296 Moustakas 3b 0 0 0 0 .143 Hoes lf 3 0 0 0 .136 Maxwell rf 3 0 0 0 .000 Gonzalez,Ma ss 3 0 0 0 .100 Cain,L cf 3 0 0 0 .356 27 1 3 1 Escobar,A ss 2 0 0 0 .372 30 0 4 0 Royals INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Guthrie L 1-1 8.0 3 1 1 1 9 110 70 1.29 8.0 3 1 1 1 9 110 70 Astros INN H R ER BB K PCH STR ERA Keuchel W 1-2 9.0 4 0 0 2 8 116 71 3.48 9.0 4 0 0 2 8 116 71 KC : Dyson,J ran for Valencia in the 8th Moustakas inserted at 3b in the 8th E-Guzman. HR-Springer(1). RBI-Springer(1). SB-Dyson,J(3). K-Hosmer, Butler,B 2, Gordon,A 2, Maxwell 2, Cain,L, Fowler, Springer, Castro,J, Guzman, Krauss, Dominguez,M 2, Hoes 2. BB-Gordon,A, Escobar,A, Fowler. GWRBI: Springer Temperature: 70, Wind: none. Attendance: 15,959 Game Time: 2:22