MLB: Kansas City 2, Houston 1

HOUSTON, June 24 (UPI) -- A strong start by Zack Greinke and a solo home run by Billy Butler carried the Kansas City Royals to a 2-1 victory Tuesday over the Houston Astros.

Butler's third-inning shot broke a 1-1 tie and proved to be the game-winner in a pitching duel between Greinke (9-3), who struck out five and scattered eight hits over eight innings, and Russ Ortiz (3-3), who took the inter-league loss after giving up two runs on five hits in seven innings.

Miguel Olivo drove in the other run for the Royals, who ended five-game losing streak.

The Astros scored a run in the first inning when Miguel Tejada drove in Hunter Pence from third with two outs.

That was the last significant threat Houston mounted as Greinke kept the Astros out of scoring position until he turned the game over to Joakim Sorija in the ninth. Sorija gave up singles by Tejada and Lance Berkman but then set down the next three batters on two strikeouts and ground out by Jason Michaels.

Kansas City scored its first run on Olivo's bases-loaded fielder's choice in the second inning. The Royals took a 2-1 lead in the third on Butler's seventh homer this season.