The Kansas City Royals weren’t able to keep up with the Houston Astro bats, as the visitors’ offense came alive in the Royals’ 7-3 loss Sunday, April 27 at Kauffman Stadium.

After being shut out the last two games, the Astros finally found the scoreboard when Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run home run with one out in the third off Royals starter Kris Bubic. The Royals had a chance to respond in the bottom half of the inning, but strikeouts of Bobby Witt Jr and Vinnie Pasquantino stranded runners on first and second. The Astros added a run in the fifth with a Jeremy Peña single that yielded an extra base on a throwing error by Jonathan India. Peña would double in two more runs in the sixth, while Yainer Diaz claimed a solo home run in the seventh. The Royals ended the shutout with Witt’s double in the fifth, then claimed runs in the seventh and ninth to complete the scoring.

Bubic took the loss but lasted five innings, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four.

The Royals fall to 14-15, remaining third in the AL Central after going 5-1 on the recent homestand. The Royals have the day off before traveling to Tampa Bay to face the Rays in a three-game series at Steinbrenner Field.