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 Left-hander Scott Kazmir won his first start for Houston and left
fielder Preston Tucker went 3-for-5 with a home run as the Astros
topped the Kansas City Royals 4-0 on Friday night.
Kazmir limited the Royals to three hits over seven innings. The
Astros acquired Kazmir Thursday from the Oakland Athletics for
minor-leaguers Daniel Mengden and Jacob Nottingham.
"I haven't even got a chance to reflect on that yet," Kazmir said of
the past 36 hours. "It seems like it is go-go-go right now. I'm just
glad to be here."
Kazmir (6-5) has allowed one earned run in 26 1/3 innings over four
starts in July. He threw 60 strikes in 91 pitches.
"To be able to get runs like that, especially early in the game, and
to have that defense behind you makes you very confident out there,"
Kazmir said.
Jeremy Guthrie (7-6) took the loss, allowing four runs on 11 hits
over seven innings. He gave up just one hit after the two-run
fourth.
"Not a lot of adjustments, just better results," Guthrie said. "Most
of the RBI hits were pitches I executed, aside from the home run.
That was a bad pitch that Tucker took advantage of. But a lot of the
other ones were jam balls that they did a nice job to get out
there."
Tucker put the Astros on the board with a home run in the third
inning. It was Tucker's fourth home run in his past five games.
"Tucker has been very hot even before the All-Star break," Astros
manager A.J. Hinch said. "He kind of started it with the home run.
He can do a lot of damage."
The Astros a second run in that inning as shortstop Carlos Correa
walked, advanced to third on designated hitter Evan Gattis'
ground-ball single to center and scored on right fielder Colby
Rasmus' single to right.
The Astros hiked their advantage to 4-0 in the fourth, with second
baseman Jose Altuve and Correa stroking run-producing singles. It
could have been a bigger inning, but Altuve was cut down at the
plate when he attempted to score on Tucker's double to left.
Shortstop Alcides Escobar's relay throw beat Altuve.
"Jeremy did a great job getting us through seven innings," Royals
manager Ned Yost said. "He had the little rough innings in the third
and fourth, they scored two runs. Got a couple of pitches up where
they barreled the ball.
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"But they got a couple of pitches where he made his pitch, too, and
fought them off in broken-bat singles that resulted in two runs. He
did a good job getting us through seven, gave the bullpen a night
off for the most part. But Kasmir was the story."
Kazmir gave up a first-pitch single to Escobar but retired the next
nine batters before third baseman Mike Moustakas singled leading off
the fourth.
"He came as advertised," Hinch said. "Seven scoreless innings, what
more could you ask. It was a great for him to make that kind of
entrance to join the team. Kazmir is a pretty even heart beat
against a tough hitting team."
NOTES: INF Cheslor Cuthbert, who went 5-for-15 in four Royals games
in early July, was recalled from Triple-A Omaha. INF Dusty Coleman,
who was hitless in five at-bats over four games, was optioned to the
Storm Chasers. ... OF L.J. Hoes started Thursday in the Astros'
victory over Boston, but he was optioned to Triple-A Fresno on
Friday to clear roster space for LHP Scott Kazmir. ... OF Alex
Presley went through waivers unclaimed and the Astros outrighted him
to Fresno. He has three days to report or opt for free agency. ...
Royals LHP Danny Duffy, who went a career-high eight innings in his
previous start, will start Saturday against the Astros, who will
counter with RHP Scott Feldman.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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