Royals fall to Houston Astros on 9th-inning mistake after weather delay at The K
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Royals lost to the Astros 8-7 after a go-ahead run scored following a ninth-inning error.
- Matt Strahm allowed a two-run Jose Altuve homer in the seventh that tied it 7-7.
- Stephen Kolek will start Sunday against Astros righty Spencer Arrighetti at 1:10 p.m. CT.
The Kansas City Royals found themselves locked in another slugfest against the Houston Astros on Saturday night at Kauffman Stadium.
A day after combining for 18 runs, the teams put together an encore performance — that is, when they weren’t dodging the inclement weather that descended on the metro late in the game.
The Royals raced to an early three-run lead, surrendered it and lost 8-7.
“We put up seven runs and there were a lot of good at-bats throughout,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Yeah again (we) come up one short. It’s frustrating, but the guys are continuing to compete.”
Royals outfielder Lane Thomas smacked his third home run while Michael Massey hit an RBI single in the second inning.
The Astros (33-39) tied the game and chased Royals starter Noah Cameron with a pair of home runs in the fourth and fifth inning, respectively.
Then it became a battle of the bullpens. KC’s Carter Jensen recorded a bases-clearing double in the sixth inning, but the Royals gave the lead right back.
In the seventh, Matt Strahm allowed a two-run homer to Astros second baseman Jose Altuve. The blast tied the game at 7-7 and then heavy rains halted play.
Strahm has allowed a homer in six of his last eight games. The stretch includes one in each of his last four games.
“I think I text my wife immediately, when I got in here,” Strahm said. “I’m sick and tired of this (expletive), like, I just can’t.
“I can’t explain it. I wish I had the answers. If I had the answers, I’d fix it. Like I said, it feels like (I’m) throwing a lot of strikes and getting a lot of swings. But, when I miss, they don’t.”
When play resumed, the Royals were an out away from escaping ninth-inning trouble.
But Nick Loftin, who pinch-hit for Michael Massey, committed a costly mistake, throwing just wide of Jac Caglianone, who was playing first base because Vinnie Pasquantino had exited the game earlier with an injury (more about that below).
“From where I was, it looked like a double-play ball and (Loftin) just pulled the throw wide,” Quatraro said. “You know, that’s what I saw when I went and watched the replay. Just pulled the throw wide to the outfield side of the bag.”
As the ball skidded past Caglianone, Houston’s Joey Loperfido scored the go-ahead run.
The Royals (28-43) failed to make a comeback. Bobby Witt Jr. doubled with one out in the bottom of the ninth but was picked off second base as Isaac Collins lined into a game-ending double play.
The Astros won the series outright. The Royals will look to salvage a victory in the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon.
Noah Cameron can’t escape 5th inning
Entering Saturday’s game, Cameron had a 1.80 ERA in his last five starts. He had recorded 31 strikeouts and three walks in that span.
He was more aggressive in the strike zone. In is most recent outing, he recorded a first-pitch strike 52% of the time.
It appeared Cameron would continue this hot stretch against the Astros on Saturday. He pitched three scoreless innings before hitting a wall.
“Definitely felt like I let the team down a little bit tonight,” Cameron said. “We are swinging the bat well and we are scoring a lot of runs. The fourth and fifth innings, I thought it was two shutdown innings that I could’ve gotten the guys back into the dugout. And I just didn’t do that today.”
Cameron allowed two significant homers in the middle innings. Christian Walker hit a two-run blast to make it 2-2, sending an 83 mph curveball 394 feet into the left-field bullpen.
Later, Cameron threw a 90.5 sinker up to Astros outfielder Brice Matthews. It resulted in another homer, again to tie the game. Matthews hit a 434-foot blast to center field — his second homer of the series — as Houston evened the score at 4.
Cameron didn’t escape the fifth inning. He was pulled after 4 1/3 innings and charged with four earned runs.
“Throwing a two-seam there to Matthews isn’t the pitch I should’ve thrown,” Cameron said.
The Royals turned to right-hander John Schreiber to finish the inning. Cameron has allowed six home runs this season — but he had only allowed one in his most recent eight starts before Saturday night.
Vinnie Pasquantino exits early
The Royals are dealing with another significant injury. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino left the game with a hamate injury in his right hand in the fifth inning.
Pasquantino popped out to begin the frame. But he had a noticeable grimace as he finished his swing at the plate. He ran down to first base clutching his side before immediately heading to the Royals clubhouse.
“We’re going to know more tomorrow,” Quatraro said, “but we anticipate it being an IL situation.”
Pasquantino’s injury resulted in a few defensive changes. Caglianone moved to first base, Thomas went to right field and Collins came in to play left.
Prior to the injury, Pasquantino was 1-for-3. He hit an RBI single in the third inning off Astros starter Mike Burrows.
What’s next: Royals right-hander Stephen Kolek (3-1, 3.14 ERA) will start on Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. He will oppose Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (7-1, 2.21 ERA) in the series finale. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. Central Time.
This story was originally published June 13, 2026 at 10:57 PM with the headline "Royals fall to Houston Astros on 9th-inning mistake after weather delay at The K."
