Astros rip Royals

? Roy Oswalt and five Houston Astros relievers combined on a one-hitter in an 11-0 shutout of the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

Oswalt (1-0) struck out five in four innings. The Royals’ only hit was Mike Sweeney’s fifth-inning single off Billy Wagner. It was the second time in four games that the Royals managed just one hit.

Meanwhile, the Astros pounded four home runs, including a three-run Jeff Bagwell shot in the first inning off Chris George (0-1) to bring his RBI count to nine for five games. Kansas City left-hander Chris George and three other Royals on Friday agreed to terms for one-year contracts.

George, a member of the 2000 United States gold medal baseball team, went 4-8 with a 5.59 ERA in 13 starts last season. He was a 1998 supplemental first-round draft pick and was 11-3 with a 3.53 ERA in 20 starts last season with Class AAA Omaha before being promoted to the majors last July. Also agreeing to terms were right-handers Jeff Austin and Brad Voyles and outfielder Brandon Berger.