KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yuniesky Betancourt's bases-loaded double keyed a seven-run, two-out rally in the fifth inning Tuesday night and carried the Kansas City Royals to a messy 15-7 victory over the Houston Astros.
Mike Aviles went 4 for 5 with a career-high four RBIs and Billy Butler and Alberto each had three hits on an oddity-filled night.
In the fourth, the Astros got four hits on just five pitches. In the third, Royals catcher Jason Kendall was credited with an unassisted double play. The Royals set a season high for runs and tied their season high with 20 hits.
After the Astros scored five in the fourth, Felipe Paulino (1-8) took a 6-3 lead into the fifth and quickly got two outs. But then David DeJesus singled, Butler walked and Jose Guillen reached on interference by catcher Humberto Quintero.
Alberto Callaspo's RBI single made it 6-4, then Aviles' single tied it. A walk reloaded the bases and Betancourt hit the next pitch over the head of left fielder Carlos Lee for a three-run double. Scott Podsednik's RBI single off Tim Byrdak brought home the seventh run.
Paulino, who had posted a 1.13 ERA over his three previous starts, went 4 2-3 innings and was charged with 10 runs — eight earned — on 11 hits. The right-hander missed becoming the first Houston pitcher since 1998 to go eight-plus innings in four consecutive starts.
Kanekoa Texeira (1-1) pitched two innings of scoreless relief for his first major league win.
The Royals got a rare double play to end the third when Michael Bourn tried to steal second with one out. Jeff Keppinger struck out, and was called for batter interference, making Bourn out. Kendall was credited with both putouts, going as a double play, 2 unassisted.
Typifying the kind of night it was for the Astros, Butler doubled in the sixth and came around on back-to-back wild pitches by Casey Daigle.
Aviles had an RBI single to make 12-6 and then made it 14-7 with an RBI groundout. KC's 15th run scored when Keppinger let a routine grounder to second roll under his glove for the Astros' third error.
Houston's first five batters all hit safely and scored off Kansas City starter Kyle Davies in the fourth for a 6-3 lead. The last four hits came on just five pitches.
Lee, Pedro Feliz and Jason Michaels all had RBI singles and Bourn had a two-run double. Michaels hit a solo home run in the eighth.
NOTES: LF Podsednik made a terrific diving catch of Quintero's sinking liner in the sixth. ... It was just KC's second victory at home against the Astros in 10 games.
(This version CORRECTS Royals 15, Astros 7. Subs 2nd graf to correct Aviles to 4 for 5.)
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