Alvarez hits 2 HRs, including a grand slam, in the first inning as Astros beat Royals 10-8

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yordan Alvarez became the third player in Houston history to hit two homers in an inning, with a two-run shot and a grand slam during a nine-run first, and the Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 10-8 on Friday night.

Alvarez is the 63rd player in major league history to hit two homers in one inning, and the first Houston player since Jeff Bagwell did it on June 24, 1994. He is the first since Boston's David Ortiz on Aug. 12, 2008 to do it in the first.

He is also just the eighth player to hit a grand slam and a multirun homer in a single inning, and the first to do it in the first inning, per Sportradar.

Alvarez finished 3 for 5 with six RBIs and moved into a tie with Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber for the MLB lead in homers with 24.

Christian Walker added a solo shot in the first inning, and Taylor Trammell had an RBI single. Cam Smith scored on a passed ball to complete the scoring.

The Royals answered with five runs in the first. Kameron Misner had two RBIs, and Vinnie Pasquantino, Michael Massey and Maikel Garcia each had one in the inning.

Kansas City scored three runs in the eighth inning to make it a one-run game, but Brice Matthews hit pinch-hit homer for the Astros in the ninth and Josh Hader — the last of seven Houston pitchers — pitched the ninth for his second save.

Nate Pearson (1-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings. Starter Tatsuya Imai went 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and five runs.

Luinder Avila (1-3) surrendered five hits, eight runs, and three walks.

Royals LHP Noah Cameron (3-4, 3.84 ERA) takes the hill opposite Astros RHP Mike Burrows (3-8, 5.77) in the second game of the series.

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Houston Astros' Christian Vazquez celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a grand slam hit by Yordan Alvarez during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, June 12, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Houston Astros pitcher Steven Okert throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, June 12, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Kameron Misner is tagged out on third by Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes (15) as he tried to advance on a single by Isaac Collins during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 12, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez hits a two-run home run hit during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, June 12, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez watches his grand slam during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, June 12, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Seattle outfielder Randy Arozarena left the Mariners’ game Friday night against the Washington Nationals because of a leg injury.

“I think a little bit of a hamstring strain, might have been more of a spasm or a cramp kind of a thing,” manager Dan Wilson said after Seattle's 10-2 victory. “It’s day to day at this point and we’ll kind of assess it a little bit more in the morning and see how he’s doing.”

The 31-year-old Arozarena started limping after running out a grounder to third in the third inning and eventually walked off the field. He did not come out for the bottom half of the inning, with Luke Raley moving from right field to Arozarena’s spot in left and Victor Robles taking over in right.

Arozarena, a two-time All-Star and the American League’s rookie of the year in 2021, is hitting .291 with seven homers and 33 RBIs. He stole his 19th base in the second inning.

Arozarena is one of three Mariners to play in every game so far this season, along with outfielder Julio Rodríguez and second baseman Cole Young.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Seattle Mariners' Randy Arozarena, left, gestures at first base after he hit a single during the second inning of a baseball game next to Washington Nationals first baseman Luis Garcia Jr., right,, Friday, June 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Seattle Mariners' Randy Arozarena celebrates in the dugout after he scored on a triple by Dominic Canzone during the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)