Each night in the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.
Royals starter Edinson Volquez took the hill Friday against the Astros looking to remain perfect against Houston in his career. One inning into his home start, the right-hander was anything but perfect.
MORE: Ranking baseball's best 50 players
Volquez had a complete meltdown; he was tagged for 12 runs (11 earned) in an inning-plus. He issued three walks while recording just three outs. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Volquez is second starter since the mound was moved to 60 feet, 6 inches in 1893 to allow 12 runs in an inning or less.
SPECTOR: On baseball and Brexit
In Houston's nine-run first inning, Astros outfielder George Springer became the first player with a triple and a grand slam in the same frame since the Tigers' Brandon Inge in 2004. Springer finished with three hits, two runs scored and five RBIs in the Astros' 13-4 victory.
MORE: Get MLB info with SN's scorebard
One bright spot for the Royals: Rookie second baseman Whit Merrifield singled twice to extend his club record of hitting safely in his first 15 career home games. The second baseman has reached safely in 28 of his first 30 career starts overall and sports an impressive .326 average.
Player of the Day
Wil Myers, 1B, Padres: Myers went 3 for 5 with a homer, two runs scored and five RBIs against the Reds as he makes a final All-Star push. Myers owns a .289/.340/.533 slash line with 17 homers and 50 RBIs.
Highlight
Apparently there is crying in baseball: Rays outfielder Taylor Motter takes a homer away from Orioles slugger Adam Jones, eliciting mock "tears" from the five-time All-Star.
Three things to know
— Angels slugger Albert Pujols hit his 573rd career home run, tying Harmon Killebrew for 11th-most all time. Pujols is 10 blasts shy of tying Mark McGwire for 10th.
— In Cleveland's seventh consecutive win, the Indians hit four triples, their most in a game since Aug. 12, 2001. Jason Kipnis (twice), Jose Ramirez and Lonnie Chisenhall all hit three-baggers for the Tribe, who haven't lost since the Cavaliers won Game 6 of the NBA Finals and then went on to win the NBA title.
— Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks became the first player since 1900 with five or more innings pitched in a start to allow only one hit, with that hit being a grand slam. Hendricks allowed four runs (none earned) and four walks in five innings against the Marlins. Justin Bour's grand slam drove in the only runs for the Marlins in their 5-4 loss.
What's next
Rays (31-40) at Orioles (42-30), 1:05 p.m. ET: In the first game of a day-night doubleheader between the AL East rivals, Matt Andriese (6-0, 2.88 ERA) will look to remain perfect against Kevin Gausman (0-5, 4.37 ERA), who has allowed 10 runs over his past eight innings of work.
Phillies (31-44) at Giants (48-27), 10:05 p.m. ET: Coming off a complete game in which he suffered a bad-luck loss, Giants ace Madison Bumgarner (8-3, 1.85 ERA) has a great shot for another nine-inning outing against the struggling Phillies, who send Jeremy Hellickson (4-6, 4.41 ERA) to the mound. After Friday's 5-4 victory, the Giants are 31-9 in last 40 games — their best 40-game span since going 33-7 in 1954 as the New York Giants. (That team won the World Series.)