Houston rookie George Springer will try to extend his recent tear at the plate on Tuesday evening as the Astros shoot for a series victory over the Kansas City Royals in the second of three straight meetings.
The Astros added some excitement to their roster when they recalled the 24- year-old Springer from the minor leagues in mid-April, but the outfielder saw himself struggle to just a .170 average through his first 12 games.
He followed with an eight-game hitting streak and has steadily increased his average, which is now up to .268 with a .500 slugging percentage and .848 OPS thanks to a recent tear.
Springer has a hit in eight straight games, going 4-for-4 at the plate in last night's 9-2 victory while notching a homer, two doubles, three RBI and five runs scored. He has homered in four straight games, with five in that span, and is the first Astro since Carlos Lee in 2011 to drive in a run in five straight.
Springer has notched 12 RBI over that span.
"Springer was absolutely tremendous, just line drive after line drive," Astros manager Bo Porter said.
The supporting cast in last night's win included Marwin Gonzalez, who went 4-for-5 with an RBI, and Jason Castro, who brought in two runners as the Astros won their third straight game.
Scott Feldman earned the win after surrendering just two runs on eight hits in six innings of work.
Lorenzo Cain went 4-for-4 with an RBI and Alex Gordon had two hits for Kansas City, which has dropped three of its last four and five of its past seven and also saw starter Yordano Ventura depart after 2 2/3 innings with lateral elbow discomfort.
Ventura, another exciting prospect, yielded five runs before his exit.
"In the third inning, I threw a few pitches and it started to feel a little weird," Ventura said of the elbow. "I felt something unnatural. It was a little uncomfortable, unnatural, and I decided to say something."
Kansas City now turns to veteran Jeremy Guthrie, who has gone 0-3 in eight starts since winning his first two of the season.
Guthrie, pitching to a 4.39 earned run average on the year, got a no-decision for the third time in four starts on Wednesday versus the Chicago White Sox. He pitched well enough to win, however, yielding a run on three hits and two walks over seven innings.
The 35-year-old righty is 2-1 with a 5.18 ERA in five previous meetings with the Astros. That includes a no-decision at Houston on April 16, when he allowed four runs over six innings as he yielded a pair of two-run homers.
Kansas City did sweep that three-game road set after winning four of six a season ago.
Houston will send Collin McHugh to the mound tonight with the right-hander looking to snap a three-decision losing streak.
McHugh is coming off a tough-luck 2-1 setback to Jered Weaver and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Wednesday, with Weaver tossing a complete game.
The 26-year-old McHugh, meanwhile, gave up both runs on four hits and two walks over seven innings with seven strikeouts.
"(McHugh) was really good tonight, and the other guy was even better," Porter said.
McHugh is 2-3 with a 3.32 ERA on the year and faces the Royals for the first time.
[SportsNetwork.com]
