Astros Surge Ahead with Nine Runs in First Inning, Hold Off Royals for 10-8 Win

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 12: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on June 12, 2026. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

This season, the Houston Astros demonstrated their knack for excitement by scoring an astonishing nine runs in the first inning, turning what appeared to be a straightforward game into a dramatic contest. In the end, they managed to secure a 10-8 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

Royals pitcher Luinder Avila struggled mightily, being pulled after throwing 49 pitches in the first inning, marking the highest count for any pitcher in a single inning this season. Tatsuya Imai, making his ninth start, also fell victim to the Astros' offense, allowing five runs before being removed as well. The lengthy first inning lasted 47 minutes before finally concluding.

Reliever Steven Okert was brought in to stabilize the situation, delivering a solid 2 1/3 innings, marking his longest appearance since August 2021. The Astros deployed six different relievers throughout the game, including Okert, Blubaugh, Pearson, De Los Santos, King, and Josh Hader, who secured his second save of the season.

The offensive fireworks for the Astros ignited with Jeremy Pena's leadoff single, followed by back-to-back home runs from Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker. Alvarez later returned to the plate with the bases loaded, hitting a grand slam off reliever Mason Black. This impressive feat marked the first time since Jeff Bagwell in June 1994 that an Astros player hit two home runs in the same inning. Alvarez contributed significantly, driving in six of the team's ten runs and leading the American League with 54 RBIs.

In the eighth inning, the Royals rallied with three runs, narrowing the gap after a single from Michael Massey and a bases-loaded walk to Carter Jensen, followed by an RBI single from Bobby Witt. However, Brice Matthews provided some insurance for the Astros in the top of the ninth with a towering 433-foot home run, his fifth of the season.

With this victory, the Astros improved their record to 2-2 on their current road trip. Mike Burrows is slated to take the mound on Saturday, with the game set to begin at 6:10 PM CDT. Burrows has struggled recently, losing four of his last five starts.