Altuve trip-le shy of cycle, Astros win again

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The Astros pulled within 8 1/2 games of the American League West-leading Rangers, pending the Rangers-Red Sox outcome on Saturday night. The Royals fell to five games behind the AL Central-leading Indians.

Royals right-hander Chris Young pitched a scoreless first before his night fell apart. Young lasted 2 1/3 innings and gave up seven earned runs. In the first two games of the series, Royals starters have gone 3 1/3 innings and given up 19 runs (18 earned).

Royals catcher Drew Butera was called upon in the ninth inning. It was the fourth career pitching appearance for Butera, who gave up one hit, but wound up with a scoreless inning.

Astros starter Mike Fiers was only marginally better and couldn't secure a win despite being handed a 9-1 lead. Fiers got through one out in the fifth before Astros manager A.J. Hinch had seen enough. Fiers gave up nine hits, three walks and three runs.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Altuve falls off his cycle: The Astros second baseman came up to bat in the sixth needing a triple for the cycle, and when Altuve shot a ball into the left-center-field gap, he was smelling it. Altuve (4-for-5) was heading into second at full speed when he slipped and wiped out on the base, settling for a double -- his fourth hit of the game. Altuve, who doubled in the first and homered in the second, couldn't help but smile as his teammates laughed in the dugout.

Altuve trips going for cycle

HOU@KC: Altuve trips going for triple to get cycle

Jose Altuve, a triple short of the cycle, lines a ball to the gap in left-center and trips over his helmet while rounding second

Alex Gordon returns: The Royals got back Gordon from a rehab assignment, and he promptly hit a home run, his fifth, and a double. Gordon was activated prior to the game. He had been on the disabled list with a broken bone near his right wrist.

Gordon's solo home run

HOU@KC: Gordon blasts a solo homer in his return

Alex Gordon tees off on a ball and launches it over the wall in right-center for a solo homer, his first hit since returning from injury

Escape artists: The Astros kept the Royals out of range by wriggling out of bases-loaded jams in the fourth and fifth innings with minimal damage. Fiers got Gordon to ground out to end the fourth -- with a 9-6-5 double play earlier in the inning looming large -- and reliever Michael Feliz retired Alcides Escobar and Cheslor Cuthbert to end the fifth and strand the bases loaded.

Bullpen taxed again: For the second straight night, the Royals turned to their bullpen after a starter exited early. This time, after Young's departure, right-hander Peter Moylan came on to calm the storm. Moylan slowed the Astros down, giving up two runs in 2 2/3 innings. Chien-Ming Wang threw three innings of one-run relief before tiring in the ninth and giving up three more runs.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Astros scored at least 13 runs in consecutive games for the first time since Sept. 8-9, 2000.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW
With runners on first and third and one out in the second inning, Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain originally was called out on the back end of a double-play grounder. The Royals challenged, and the call was overturned, which led to Cuthbert, who had been on third, scoring.

Cain's RBi fielder's choice

HOU@KC: Cain drives in run after call overturned

Lorenzo Cain is ruled out at first for an Astros double play, then the Royals challenge the call and the call at first is overturned

WHAT'S NEXT
Astros: Right-hander Doug Fister (8-3, 3.21 ERA) starts on Sunday at 1:15 p.m. CT in the series finale at Kauffman Stadium looking to win his eighth consecutive decision. He's allowed three runs or fewer in 12 consecutive starts, and the Astros have won 10 games in a row in which he's started.

Royals: Right-hander Ian Kennedy (5-6, 4.19) will take the mound in the series finale on Sunday at 1:15 p.m. CT. Kennedy gave up two solo homers over four innings in a 2-1 loss to the Mets last Tuesday.

Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.

Jeffrey Flanagan has covered the Royals since 1991, and for MLB.com since 2015. Follow him on Twitter @FlannyMLB.

Brian McTaggart has covered the Astros since 2004, and for MLB.com since 2009. Follow @brianmctaggart on Twitter and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Altuve trip-le shy of cycle, Astros win again