After a disappointing 1-3 series against the Royals last week, the Astros entered the new three-game series with Kansas City hopeful for a different outcome with this series at home. Instead, they would fall again as the baffling trend of losing to beatable teams continues.

Final Score: Royals 7, Astros 1

Astros' Record: 73-52, first in the AL West

Winning Pitcher: Daniel Lynch (4-3)

Losing Pitcher: Zack Greinke (11-4)

Greinke tosses another quality start

It was not the start that Houston, who dropped three of four to the Royals in Kansas City last week, hoped for on Monday. The Royals jumped out to an early lead against Zack Greinke, getting a one-out double and two-out RBI ground-rule double in the second, then a solo homer in the third, going in front 2-0.

Houston cut that lead in half in the bottom of the third, getting a leadoff single by Taylor Jones, who would later score on an RBI double by Yuli Gurriel, making it 2-1. Greinke kept it a one-run game the rest of his start, tossing a 1-2-3 fourth and working around a single and walk in the fifth before finishing with a scoreless sixth. His final line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 92 P.

Astros once again can't handle the Royals

Despite having the tying run on third with one out in the fifth, Houston remained down one run after Greinke was done, with Yimi Garcia taking over in the top of the seventh. He did not do well, allowing a walk, RBI double, and another run on an error, putting the Royals in front 4-1 before Blake Taylor would finish the frame.

Taylor remained on the mound in the top of the eighth, but things quickly spiraled out of control for Houston as after a single and an out, they would switch to Phil Maton, who would have a rough outing. He allowed three earned runs, one on a two-out single, then a two-RBI triple, as Kansas City broke the game open at 7-1. The six-run lead would hold for the Royals, who handed the Astros another loss, and after winning three of the four-game set at Kauffman Stadium, would claim the season-series victory with two games left to play.

Up Next: The middle game of this three-game set will be another 7:10 PM Central start on Tuesday. The pitching matchup will be Luis Garcia (9-6, 3.39 ERA) for Houston and Brady Singer (3-8, 5.23 ERA) for Kansas City.