KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals pulled within a run in the bottom of the eighth, but then their relief pitchers hit a batter, giving up three hits, a walk and three runs with two outs, as they fell 7-4 in front of an announced 12,776 in the finale of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Astros clinched the series with the win.
The Royals’ bullpen gave up four runs in the final two innings, but the Royals still got the tying run on base in the ninth inning before falling short.
Salvador Perez went 2 for 3 with a home run, a double drove in three of the team’s runs. Michael A. Taylor had two hits. Whit Merrifield (1 for 4, walk) and MJ Melendez (1 for 3, walk) also had hits for the Royals (17-35).
Ryan O’Hearn had a pinch-hit RBI single in the ninth inning.
Royals left fielder Andrew Benintendi was taken out of the game in the ninth inning. It wasn’t immediately clear if he’d suffered an injury.
Pitcher Jonathan Heasley, making the start for the Royals, allowed three runs on seven hits, including one home run, and two walks in six innings — his second consecutive six-inning start. He also matched his season high with five strikeouts.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Astros reliever Ryan Pressly got ejected from the game after throwing two pitches inside and off the plate to Taylor. Two Astros players were hit by pitches earlier in the game, including one in the top of the ninth.
