With several injured pieces nearing their return, like third baseman Alex Bregman, the Astros entered Tuesday's middle game looking to get a win and build some lasting momentum as MLB reaches its home stretch. They would control the game from the first inning, grabbing the victory against Kansas City.

Final Score: Astros 4, Royals 0

Astros' Record: 74-52, first in the AL West

Winning Pitcher: Luis Garcia (10-6)

Losing Pitcher: Brady Singer (3-9)

Houston builds an early lead

After being held to just one run the night prior, the Astros surpassed that in the bottom of the first inning. They loaded the bases with one out on a single and two walks, and Carlos Correa would record a productive out by getting an RBI groundout to put the Astros out front 1-0. Aledmys Diaz was next and hit a ball on the infield, which induced an error to score two more runs, extending the lead to 3-0. In the bottom of the third, a leadoff single by Yuli Gurriel set up Carlos Correa for his second RBI of the night, getting a double to add another run to the lead.

Garcia impresses again in win number ten

Coupled with some solid defense behind him, Luis Garcia was holding that lead well over that span. He retired the first six batters he faced, striking out three, before allowing his first baserunner on a leadoff double in the third. He would deal with runners on second and third but got out of the jam to keep Kansas City off the board.

He erased two singles in the fourth, then locked back in to toss 1-2-3 innings in the fifth and sixth. Still going in the top of the seventh, he would break his streak of nine batters retired in a row with a one-out single. He faced one more batter, getting his seventh strikeout as Dusty Baker would take the ball and bring in Ryne Stanek to finish the frame. Garcia's final line, which earned him his tenth win of the year: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 90 P.

Astros even the series

Stanek stayed in the game to start the top of the eighth and, with a timely double play, erased a one-out walk to get through it. With the score still 4-0 in the top of the ninth, Houston turned to Kendall Graveman to wrap things up. He would, finishing the shutout win for the Astros to set up a rubber game on Wednesday afternoon.

Up Next: The finale of this three-game set and the season series will get started at 1:10 PM Central on Wednesday. Lance McCullers Jr. (10-4, 3.21 ERA) will take the mound for Houston, while Mike Minor (8-11, 5.34) will pitch for Kansas City.