KANSAS CITY - George Springer homered in his fourth straight game and went 4-for-4 with three RBI and scored five runs Monday night in the Houston Astros' 9-2 victory against the Kansas City Royals.
The Astros have won three straight, matching their longest winning streak this season, and snapped a six-game losing streak to the Royals.
Springer led off the eighth with a home run off Louis Coleman, his fifth homer in four games. He is the first Houston rookie to homer in four straight games. Lance Berkman was the last Astro to homer in four straight games, that coming July 4-8, 2010.
Springer also had two doubles and became the first Astro to score five runs in a game since Cody Ransom accomplished it Sept. 24, 2007 against St. Louis. Springer extended his hitting streak to eight games, and is 8-for-16 with 11 RBI and 10 runs in the past five games.
Scott Feldman (3-2) held the Royals to two runs and eight hits in six innings.
Royals rookie starter Yordano Ventura was led off the field by a trainer in the third inning after experiencing discomfort in his elbow. The hard-throwing right-hander is scheduled for a MRI exam today.
Ventura (2-5) went 2 2/3 innings, yielding five runs on seven hits and three walks before being replaced by Michael Mariot.
The Astros had a season-high 16 hits, including a career-high four from Marvin Gonzalez, who had a double, an RBI and a run scored, while Alex Presley had three hits. Dexter Fowler reached base five times with two hits and three walks.
The nine runs matched an Astros' season high.
Lorenzo Cain had four hits, matching his career high, and drove in a run for the Royals, who have lost five of seven.
Notes: Royals 2B Omar Infante, who was on the disabled list with a lower back injury, was activated and doubled in the first inning. RHP Casey Coleman was optioned to Triple-A Omaha. ... Astros RHP Brad Peacock, who was scratched from a May 23 start with forearm stiffness, threw a bullpen session Monday and was given the OK to start Thursday against Baltimore. ... Royals LHP Bruce Chen, who is on the disabled list with a bulging disc, threw a 25-pitch simulated game Monday. Chen soon could be going on a minor league rehab assignment. ... The Astros recalled OF Robbie Grossman from Triple-A Oklahoma City.