KANSAS CITY -- Considering all the Astros had been through against the Royals -- blowing a six-run lead and having an 11-game win streak snapped on Tuesday and seeing ace pitcher Dallas Keuchel hit the disabled list for a second time this year on Thursday -- pushing across five runs in the ninth for a 6-1 win on Thursday night to split the four-game series at Kauffman Stadium was reason to exhale.
The Astros capped their season-long 10-game road trip by going 8-2, improving their away record to 23-8. Houston swept three from the Twins and Rangers, distancing themselves from their American League West nemesis, before splitting with the Royals. They outscored the opposition, 85-44, during the 10 games.
"A lot of us were talking to think it was crazy this thing started in Minnesota [on Memorial Day]," relief pitcher Will Harris said. "It seems like it was so long ago, you know? It's been a strange one, no doubt. To go 8-2, we're all looking forward to getting back home. Having the eight wins under our belt on the road trip, it's the best road trip I've been a part of since I've been on this team."
The Astros began the trip by scoring 11 runs in the eighth inning to wipe out a six-run deficit in a 16-8 win over the Twins on May 29. Manager A.J. Hinch didn't see most of it because he was ill, and he spent more time in the clubhouse than the dugout. The Astros crushed the Twins, 17-6, two days later behind six homers, including two from George Springer.

"Looking back at the Minnesota series, it was definitely a lot of fun, and you can see what this team can put once everybody gets hot," outfielder Josh Reddick said. "We can do some damage."
Any doubts about the Astros' inability to beat the Rangers was put to rest last weekend when they swept their rivals, waiting out a two-hour-plus rain delay in Friday's series opener before Luke Gregerson recorded the final out of the sweep on Sunday in a driving rainstorm.
After a 7-3 victory over the Royals for their 11th win in a row on Monday, it felt like the Astros might not lose again. And when they built a 7-1 lead on Tuesday, they looked invincible. A late bullpen meltdown led to Mike Moustakas' walk-off homer that ended the win streak and brought the Astros back to reality.

Keuchel was scratched from Wednesday's game, a 7-5 loss, and was placed on the disabled list with a neck ailment to stoke the worrywarts, but Lance McCullers Jr.'s brilliant pitching on Thursday and the explosive ninth -- sparked by Jose Altuve's go-ahead homer -- meant a happy flight home.
"These are tough places to play, though sometimes we make it look a little easier than it is when we pile up wins," Hinch said. "To come out of this 10-day road trip, it's been a grind. We've had awkward times, we've had a little bit of weather, it's business as usual for us. I feel like we show up every day to play, and to go 8-2 on any road trip, you can sign me up for the next one."