Astros turn the tables on Roy als in Game 1

Kansas City Royals’ Eric Hosmer, right, celebrates with Johnny…

Houston Astros starting pitcher Collin McHugh throws Thursday during the first inning in Game 1 of baseball’s American League…

Waking up their bats is imperative, too, and Astros starter Scott Kazmir presents an interesting case. If dropping Game 1 of the division series isn’t a death sentence, it’s at very least a sudden cardiac arrest that necessitates a defibrillator and a prayer.

The hope is in Game 2, because while Game 3 isn’t a death sentence, either, every walk into the batter’s box will feel like the Green Mile.

The Kansas City Royals took advantage, rallying from a three-run hole for a 5-4 victory Friday that evened their series at a game apiece as it shifts to Houston.

“We mean business”, Astros closer Luke Gregerson said. Kansas City took the lead in the seventh when Alcides Escobar led off with a triple against Will Harris (0-1) and Zobrist followed with his single through the left side.

“I’m a little sore today, but that’s what we expected, but I can start (Friday)”, said Gomez, who pinch-ran for designated hitter Evan Gattis in the eighth inning. Gomez was initially ruled safe, but the call was overturned upon review.

Jose Altuve then grounded out to end it, giving Davis the save.

The next time Keuchel could realistically be counted on is Sunday, which will be Game 3 of the ALDS in Houston – which is a bonus considering he is 15-0 in that building this season.

Now, the Astros head to Kansas City to face a deep and talented Royals team that should pose quite a challenge. “This is a new season now, the best team is going to win”. We could wait and see who makes it, but what fun is that? The Astros bullpen is pretty good also and just need to get the job down. We had to come in and focus on these guys.

Aside from those statistical edges, the 2015 KC Royals are a team that knew from the first day of spring training that they could win.

“They compete”, said catcher Salvador Perez, who homered for the Royals. The problem with these two is the fact that if they aren’t hitting home runs, they aren’t doing much at all for their team. Let him walk you, they said.

The Astros jumped on Cueto right from the start, just as they did Yordano Ventura in the series opener. Rasmus doubled in a run in the first, and Springer added a two-run knock in the second as restless Royals fans began to shower their ace with boos.

Kansas City’s relief corps was simply better, allowing the reigning AL champions to become the first home team to win in six games this postseason. Chris Young served up Springer’s home run with one out in the fifth but tossed four otherwise solid innings of relief.

Still trailing 4-2, Cain got the Royals’ tying rally started with a double, and Hinch called for Perez.

“I’m happy we’re going home”, Hinch said. In a short series, rationality often gets thrown out the window and the game’s noise takes over. “But we play more of a gap-to-gap style, aggressive-base-running style, solid defense-and-great-bullpen style here, because it fits our park”, Royals manager Ned Yost explained during Wednesday’s workout.