Only the Houston Astros this season could deliver angst and high drama after posting a whopping 9 runs in the first inning. What should’ve been a contest set on cruise control, quickly became a roller coaster affair, between dueling bullpens. Houston would hang on for a 10-8 win.
Royals starter Luinder Avila would be chased after throwing 49 pitches, the highest volume for any pitcher in an inning this year. Avila now owns that dubious distinction. Swimming in the same stormy waters was Tatsuya Imai, who in his 9th start would also get bounced in the opening frame while being charged with 5 runs. The inning would take 47 minutes to complete.
Steven Okert would come on initially in relief to quiet the noise. Okert would go 2 1/3 IP, his longest outing since August of 2021. In total, the Astros would utilize six different relievers; Okert, Blubaugh, Pearson, De Los Santos, King and Josh Hader. Hader would close the door, registering his 2nd save of the year.
The Astros first inning fireworks began with a leadoff single by Jeremy Pena, followed by back-to-back home runs from Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker. The entire order would bat around. Alvarez would then reappear with the bases loaded, launching a grand slam off of reliever Mason Black. It would be the first time an Astros player would have multiple homeruns in the same inning since Jeff Bagwell accomplished the feat in June of 1994 verses the Dodgers. Alvarez would account for 6 of the 10 runs scored. He now leads the A.L. with 54 rbi’s.
The Royals would add a trio of runs in the bottom of the 8th, first on a single by Michael Massey that drove in Michael Garcia. That hit would be followed by a Carter Jensen bases loaded walk and then a Bobby Witt RBI single. That would trim the lead to one.
In the top of the ninth, Brice Matthews would create some breathing room, adding an insurance run with a 433-foot HR. It was Matthews’s 5th homer of the season.
With the win, the Astros improve to 2-2 on this current road trip. Mike Burrows is scheduled to start Saturday. First pitch from Kauffman Stadium at 6:10pm CDT. Burrows has lost 4 of his last 5 outings.
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