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 McHugh pitched seven scoreless innings Tuesday, and center
fielder Alex Presley had his second consecutive three-hit game and
drove in a run as the Astros blanked the Kansas City Royals 3-0.
The Astros (21-32) won their season-best fourth in a row, all on the
road. The Royals (24-27) lost for the sixth time in eight games to
drop three games below .500 for the first time since May 5.
McHugh (3-3) allowed five hits, all singles, struck out nine and
walked none while recording his first victory since April 27. The
right-hander went a combined 0-4 with a 10.04 ERA last season for
New York and Colorado in seven games, including five starts.
"The curveball was probably my most effective pitch," McHugh said of
Tuesday's game. "I think my best pitch is always a well-located
fastball, but the more you can locate that, the better it makes your
off-speed stuff."
Catcher Jason Castro said McHugh's curveball "was outstanding
again."
 The Royals' advance scouts knew all about McHugh's deadly curve.
"This kid is yet to give up a hit the whole year long on his
curveball, and it's a great one," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said.
"He's got a really good slider, and he spots his fastball well. In
that aspect, he threw the ball really well.
"But on the other aspect, I just have higher expectations for our
offense that we should be able to compete against high-caliber guys
when they are on top of their games."
Left-hander Tony Sipp and right-hander Chad Qualls retired all six
batters they faced to complete the Astros' second shutout of the
season.
"Watching from the 'pen is like watching a good movie," Sipp said.
"You don't want to come in and mess up the ending."
The Astros pulled away from the Royals with a two-run eighth.
Catcher Jason Castro began the inning with a double and advanced to
third on a groundout. After pinch hitter Jesus Guzman walked, Castro
scored on left-hander Tim Collins' wild pitch. Left fielder Robbie
Grossman singled, and Presley capped the inning with a sacrifice
fly.
The Astros loaded the bases with two out in the sixth when first
baseman Marc Krauss was hit by a pitch and Grossman and Presley
singled.
Royals right-hander Jeremy Guthrie got out of the jam, and Kansas
City manager Ned Yost got kicked out of the game. After Presley's
line-drive single, Yost came to the mound, but not to make a
pitching change. Yost waited until plate umpire Kerwin Danley came
out, and he was quickly ejected after a few words.
"I lost my frustration," Yost said. "I got frustrated on some calls
I thought Jeremy should have got. It's mostly my fault."
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Guthrie retired shortstop Marvin Gonzalez on a grounder to leave the
bases loaded.
Guthrie (2-4) was pulled after six innings and 105 pitches. He
allowed one run on seven hits while walking three and striking out
five. In his past three starts, the Royals have scored one run while
he was on the mound, and they were shut out twice. "I can never complain," Guthrie said. "I've been given a ton of
run support, not only this season but as long as I've been a Kansas
City Royal. I'm the last guy to feel like the offense isn't doing
their part. I don't ever feel that way toward them."
In the fourth inning, Guthrie walked designated hitter Dexter Fowler
and Castro. Third baseman Matt Dominguez singled to center, scoring
Fowler as the Astros grabbed a 1-0 lead. Fowler walked for the 23rd
time in May, the top figure in the American League.
The Royals lost for the 23rd time in 27 games when they failed to
score more than three runs.
"We've got to figure out a way to produce runs and do what we can
'cause the pitching staff is doing way too well right now to be
giving them this kind of run support," said first baseman Eric
Hosmer, who went 0-for-4. "We've just got to flat out figure a way
to get it done."
NOTES: Kansas City RHP Yordano Ventura, who left with a sore elbow
in the third inning Monday, is expected to miss just one start. A
MRI exam Tuesday revealed no ligament damage. The Royals have yet to
announce who will start Saturday in Ventura's place at Toronto. ...
RHP Kyle Zimmer, the fifth player picked in the 2012 draft and the
Royals' top pitching prospect, has a right lat tear. He will be out
six to eight weeks before resuming a throwing program. ... Astros
LHP Dallas Keuchel was selected the American League Player of the
Week after going 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA in two starts. He is the first
Astros southpaw to win the award since Bob Knepper in 1981. ...
Houston 2B Jose Altuve increased his major-league-leading hit total
to 72 when he singled to lead off the game. He ended the night
1-for-5.
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