Drew Butera finished the game on the mound, the first time the Royals had a position player pitch since Mitch Maier on April 15, 2012.
That fairly accurately sums up the Royals’ starting pitching performance the last two days.
Chris Young waited until the second inning to implode, but not much else was different Saturday as the Royals got bludgeoned for the second straight game by the Astros at Kauffman Stadium.
Home was supposed to be the Royals’ safe space, where Ned Yost’s club has posted a major league-best 25-10 record even after enduring back-to-back beatings.