Lynch shuts down Astros for 7 innings as Royals win 3-1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Royals rookie Daniel Lynch doesn't worry too much about the lineup he's facing, even pointing out how the Triple-A team for Detroit once battered him for eight runs.

Well, he made the AL West-leading Houston Astros look like a bunch of minor leaguers Tuesday night.

Lynch allowed one run over seven crisp innings against a club leading the majors in runs, hits, batting average and just about every other important offensive stat. And when he turned over the lead to his bullpen, they made it stand up in a 3-1 victory — the Royals' second straight comeback win over Houston.

“I try not to think about it because I don't know how much it's going to help me,” Lynch said. “It's obviously well-known if you're facing good hitters, but I'm a firm believer if you leave stuff in the middle and don't do what you need to do, they're going to get you. It doesn't really matter who it is.”

Lynch (3-3) gave up a two-out RBI single to Carlos Correa in the third inning, but Martin Maldonado was thrown out at the plate on the play and Lynch bounced back to retire the side in the fourth. He cruised through the next three innings and allowed four hits and three walks in all while striking out five.

Josh Staumont took over and pitched a perfect eighth, and Jake Brentz walked a pair in the ninth before the hard-throwing reliever struck out Chas McCormick and earned his second career save.

Framber Valdez (8-4) lasted 6 2/3 innings for Houston, permitting three runs on nine hits and a walk.

“We've talked about a lot of these guys checking boxes and I think part of it's playing against some of these teams that are held in high respect,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “It's easy to say in theory, it's harder to say in application. Young players tend to give the opposition...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Lynch-shuts-down-Astros-for-7-innings-as-Royals-16394183.php