Robinson Chirinos' two-run homer in the sixth inning allowed the Astros to retake the lead, and Houston held on to beat the visiting Kansas City Royals 6-4 in the opener of the three-game series on Monday night.

Carlos Correa had three hits, including a solo home run, and George Springer doubled, homered and drove in two runs for the Astros, who have won three in a row.

Houston right-hander Gerrit Cole (3-4) went 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs and seven hits. Cole, who leads the majors with 74 strikeouts, fanned nine and didn't walk a batter.

Hunter Dozier and Adalberto Mondesi hit two-run homers, and Alex Gordon and Dozier each had two hits for the Royals, who have lost four of five.

Kansas City right-hander Jakob Junis (3-3) went 5 1/3 innings, allowing five runs and nine hits while striking out three and walking two.

Josh Reddick opened the sixth inning with a single for the Astros. One out later, Chirinos homered to give the hosts a 5-4 lead and end the night for Junis.

Will Harris relieved Cole and got the final two outs of the seventh and the first two outs of the eighth before Hector Rondon got Kelvin Gutierrez to ground out with the bases loaded to end the eighth.

Springer doubled home Chirinos in the eighth to stretch the lead to 6-4 for closer Roberto Osuna, who recorded his eighth save with a perfect ninth.

Junis gave up a leadoff home run to Springer on his second pitch of the game, and Correa led off the second with another solo shot to make it 2-0.

Junis walked Reddick with the bases loaded in the third to make it 3-0.

Kansas City cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fourth on the ninth homer of the season for Dozier, who went 2-for-4 to raise his American League-leading batting average to .348.

Billy Hamilton was on second base in the fifth when Mondesi hit a 443-foot home run to center to move the Royals ahead 4-3.

--Field Level Media