(AP)The Houston Astros scored early and late to keep up their winning ways.
Yuli Gurriel hit a three-run homer, Brian McCann had a two-run shot and the Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Monday night for their 11th straight win.
It’s the longest winning streak in the majors this season and one shy of the Astros’ record. They won 12 straight in 1999 and 2004.
McCann homered in the fourth after Marwin Gonzalez walked to lead off the inning. He had been 1 for 16 in five games since returning from a concussion.
Gurriel homered in the ninth off Kelvin Herrera. He has gone deep in back-to-back games and has 10 RBI during a six-game hitting streak.
McCann started a two-run second inning with a one-out double and scored on Nori Aoki’s single. George Springer’s two-out single scored Gurriel, who had walked.
Houston has won 11 consecutive road games, which is a franchise record. The team is 22-6 away from home this season.
Astros starter Mike Fiers (3-2) worked five innings plus two batters. He was charged with two runs, seven hits and a walk. Fiers is 6-0 in his past 10 road starts dating to Aug. 20.
“You can throw strikes, but they’ve got to be in good spots, especially against a team that swings a lot like these guys,” Fiers said. “They come out swinging early, so pitch one is huge.”
The Royals scored a pair of runs in the second. Brandon Moss doubled to score Eric Hosmer, while Alcides Escobar’s bunt single got Mike Moustakas home.
Rookie Jorge Bonifacio homered off James Hoyt in the seventh to trim the lead to 4-3.
The Royals had Hosmer at third and Moustakas at first with none out in the sixth, but failed to score. Moss and Escobar struck out to end the inning.
Ian Kennedy (0-6) took the loss, giving up four runs, six hits and three walks over five innings. Kennedy, who is in the second season of a five-year, $70 million contract, is winless in 14 starts since a Sept. 11 victory.
Whit Merrifield went 0 for 5 to snap his 19-game hitting streak, which is the longest in the majors this season.
