Photo: Ed Zurga/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Between the eighth and ninth inning, when George Springer stared a four-strikeout game square in the face, he heard José Altuve summon him.

Altuve is not the most vocal man inside the Astros dugout. Rarely will he raise his voice or generate any unwanted attention. He is a leader of the team in every sense of the word, but prefers to proceed quietly and with little fanfare.

"He's one of the best, man," Springer said. "I love the guy to death. I admire him. He gets on me a lot. He makes sure that I never quit. He always says I'm one swing away every day."

Springer's first plate appearance on Friday was fabulous. He saw eight pitches from Royals starter Danny Duffy and flew out deep to center field. Altuve homered on the next pitch, producing an early one-run lead.

The next three efforts were excruciating. Springer struck out each time, succumbing to a steady diet of changeups and inside sliders. Anger set in. How much?

"Extremely," Springer said. "I got some pitches that I normally hit and didn't. It's not necessarily about getting a hit. I just want to hit the ball hard. And I didn't touch the ball."

Springer is the first man to acknowledge he sometimes can allow a moment to overtake him. Michael Brantley's presence has helped to mitigate most of those situations this season.

"He was frustrated a little bit offensively because of three punchouts, but I think José talked to him," catcher Martín Maldonado said.

Altuve approached Springer.

"Hey," Altuve told him, "it's going to be you."

"Because he's that type of player. He can be 0-for-4 and then he comes in and does crazy things."

Springer arrived in the ninth inning, raced ahead 2-0 against Heath Fillmyer and pulverized a putrid fastball into the fountains beyond left field. The baseball left his bat at 114.3 mph — harder than any home run hit by an Astro this season — and traveled 433 feet. The swing was a release of pent-up angst Altuve helped to subdue.

"He let me know to stay in the game," Springer said, "and I'm glad he did."

The sequence is another glimpse at Springer's maturation. The 29-year-old outfielder is perhaps the most excitable player the Astros possess. Reining him in when he gets too hyped, or buoying his spirits when things are subpar, was once a challenge.

Brantley's addition has been beneficial. Altuve's continued guidance will always serve Springer well.

Sometimes, nothing needs to be said. Springer turned a terrific fourth-inning double play on Alex Gordon's missile that nearly went over his head.

"It was kind of one of those ones where I was in the right spot to start and I got a good jump on it," Springer said. "I got kind of close to the wall, figured I might as well jump for it and I was able to snowcone it."

Starter Gerrit Cole watched the catch, pointed to first base and pumped his fists when Springer lofted the relay there, doubling off Hunter Dozier.

"I think it tells you a lot about a player when he's struggling at the plate, obviously frustrated with himself, and he doesn't take it out on defense," Cole said. "Lo and behold, he comes up with the biggest swing of the night."