Astros defeat Royals in first Spring Exhibition

Though the weather left a cloud of uncertainty around the day's events, Dusty Baker informed reporters this morning that the Astros would travel to Kansas City for the start of a two-game set against the Kansas City Royals.

Later in the evening, the Astros would end their first game against the Royals in a 6-3 victory at Kauffman Stadium. Lance McCullers Jr. was the winning pitcher, while the Royals' Mike Montgomery took the loss.

Alex Bregman got the scoring started for the Astros with a double in the top of the first inning that drove in George Springer. Bregman batted in his usual third spot in the lineup, which manager Dusty Baker did not alter much ahead of the game's start.

The Astros would continue the scoring in the fourth inning with a pair of two-run homers from Josh Reddick and Martín Maldonado. The four-run inning would chase the Royals' Montgomery from the game, after 4 2/3 innings during which he gave up five runs, with only one of them being earned.

Lance McCullers Jr. impressed in his first non-intersquad outing, going for five full innings of one-run ball to go along with six strikeouts. His only run allowed was a home run to catcher Salvador Perez. This was his first game against another team since rehabbing from Tommy John surgery last season.

As expected, a majority of the starters from both teams were pulled a bit after the midway point of the game. Baker told reporters before the game that he only planned on allowing McCullers Jr. to pitch for five innings, while the starters would all be pulled after the sixth or seventh inning. The team on the field during the ninth was entirely minor league players.

The lesser-heralded Astros impressed in their own right in the later innings, however. Myles Straw scored on a wild pitch from third in the seventh inning. Excluding a two-run mistake to the Royals' Bubba Starling, pitcher Cy Sneed impressed through three innings. Blake Taylor earned the save after a scoreless bottom of the ninth.

The Astros play again tomorrow at 1:05 PM CT. Josh James will be on the mound for the Astros, while the Royals have yet to decide on a starter.