Michael Wacha threw six scoreless innings and Vinnie Pasquantino launched a solo home run, propelling the Kansas City Royals to a 2-0 victory over the visiting Houston Astros on Saturday.
Wacha (1-3) picked up his first win this season, allowing just four hits while striking out six and walking two. Mark Canha had a hit and an RBI for the Royals, who clinched the weekend series and won their sixth straight game. Carlos Estevez threw a perfect ninth for Kansas City, securing his seventh save.
Framber Valdez (1-3) threw an eight-inning complete game, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out five and walking a pair. Isaac Paredes had two of the Astros’ six hits as the club dropped its second in a row following a three-game winning streak.
Jonathan India’s walk and Bobby Witt’s double began Kansas City’s offense in the first inning, before Canha drove in the first run with a one-out sacrifice fly.
Valdez then retired the next 11 Royals in order, before Pasquantino’s 412-foot solo homer in the fifth doubled Kansas City’s lead.
Houston threatened in the sixth with Paredes’ one-out single and Jeremy Pena’s walk, but Wacha struck out Christian Walker and retired Yainer Diaz on an inning-ending groundout.
Steven Cruz replaced Wacha for the seventh, working a perfect frame. John Schreiber handled the eighth for Kansas City, getting two quick outs before Paredes’ double and Pena’s single to put runners at second and third. Schreiber then struck out Walker to escape the jam.
Valdez remained in for the eighth, working around a two-out walk to India to preserve Houston’s two-run deficit.
