KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Houston Astros' long, unexpected run to the postseason came to a disappointing end Wednesday night, as they fell 7-2 to the Kansas City Royals in the fifth and deciding game of the American League Division Series.

The Astros took a 2-0 lead on a two-run homer by Luis Valbuena in the second inning, but that was the only offense they could muster against Royals starter Johnny Cueto. Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa, Colby Rasmus and Carlos Gomez went a combined 0-for-17 in the top five spots in the Houston order.

Kendrys Morales' home run in the bottom of the eighth inning off Dallas Keuchel put the game out of reach for good. Peter G. Aiken/USA TODAY Sports

Astros starter Collin McHugh breezed through the first three innings in 29 pitches, but the Royals worked him for 31 pitches in the fourth. McHugh exited after hitting Salvador Perez in the elbow and allowing a ground-rule double to Alex Gordon to lead off the fifth, and Mike Fiers came on to surrender a two-run, groundball double to Alex Rios inside the third-base line to put Kansas City up 3-2. The Astros never recovered.

Thumbs up: The Astros lived by the hero-a-day mantra for much of the season, and Wednesday night it appeared to be Valbuena’s turn. He drove a 94-mph fastball from Cueto into the Astros’ bullpen to quiet the home crowd. But Cueto immediately went into lockdown mode after that.

Thumbs down: Astros center fielder Gomez fell while fielding an Eric Hosmer single in the fourth inning -- allowing Lorenzo Cain to come all the way around from first base to score and cut Houston’s early lead to 2-1.

Dallas Keuchel, Houston's resident Cy Young Award candidate, gamely came out of the bullpen three days after throwing 124 pitches, but he wasn't sharp. Keuchel allowed a long three-run homer to Kendrys Morales to put the Astros down 7-2 in the eighth.

What’s next: The Astros have reason to be excited after going from 51 to 70 to 86 wins and a playoff berth over a span of three seasons. But it’s going to take them a while to get over the sting of blowing Game 4 on Monday at home. They led 6-2 in the eighth inning and were on the verge of wrapping up the series when the bullpen imploded and they lost 9-6.