Jeremy Peña hits 2 early homers, Yordan Alvarez hits 39th as Astros beat Royals 4-2

HOUSTON (AP) — Jeremy Peña homered in his first two at-bats and Yordan Alvarez slugged his 39th home run to lead the Houston Astros to a 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

The Astros, who entered the day leading the AL West by one game over the Texas Rangers, got back on track after a three-game sweep by Tampa Bay over the weekend.

Peña hit Michael Wacha’s first pitch over the wall in left-center field for his first homer since Aug. 30.

There was one out in the third when he connected off Wacha (9-9) again, a shot to the seats in left to make it 2-0 and give him a fifth career multi-homer game.

The Astros led by one when Peña singled with two outs in the fifth. Alvarez followed with his soaring longball to right field. His 39 homers are a career best and trail the Rays' Junior Caminero by two for the AL lead.

AJ Blubaugh and Bryan Abreu each threw a scoreless inning before Josh Hader allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth to close it out and collect his 26th save.

Houston starter Hunter Brown (6-3) allowed two hits and a run while tying a season high with 10 strikeouts in five innings.

He had allowed just one hit when he walked Isaac Collins with two outs in the fifth. Collins stole second base before Carter Jensen’s double to left field sent him home.

Vinnie Pasquantino homered off Bennett Sousa with two outs in the sixth to get the Royals within 4-2.

Wacha yielded four hits and four runs in six innings as the Royals lost their third straight.

Royals LHP Daniel Lynch IV (5-5, 3.52 ERA) opposes Astros RHP Cristian Javier (2-5, 5.50) on Wednesday night.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino (9) celebrates with third base coach Vance Wilson (17) after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez celebrates after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez watches his home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña celebrates after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Max Fried earned his first victory since April 27, backed by home runs from Cody Bellinger and Spencer Jones that helped the New York Yankees keep pace in the AL East race with an 8-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

Fried (5-4) allowed one run over seven smooth innings and 88 pitches, logging his longest start in almost five months to ensure the Yankees (88-63) stayed 3 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay (91-59) for the division lead. The Yankees, who clinched at least a wild card spot on Monday, will need Fried to keep this up in the postseason.

Fried, who spent 71 games on the injured list over two stints for a bone bruise in his elbow, has a 1.83 ERA with 50 strikeouts over 44 1/3 innings in nine starts after the All-Star break.

Bellinger, who had three hits and a walk, quickly got the Yankees going with his 16th homer, a two-run drive after Ben Rice began the game with a single off Bailey Ober (7-6). Bellinger is batting .377 (26 for 69) in his last 17 games.

Jones hit his 10th home run with two outs in the sixth, a three-run shot against Taylor Rogers. A fielding error by rookie shortstop Kaelen Culpepper made all four runs in the inning unearned.

New York has 11 players with 10 or more homers this season.

Star right fielder Aaron Judge, working his way back into form after recently returning from a broken rib, was on the bench for rest as the Yankees racked up 14 hits.

Culpepper was pulled with left hamstring tightness as the Twins (70-81) fell to 7-16 in their last 23 games.

LHP Carlos Rodón (6-3, 2.94 ERA) starts the last game of the series for the Yankees on Wednesday afternoon. RHP Zebby Matthews (9-10, 4.98 ERA) pitches for the Twins.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober (17) delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried stretches before a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger, front, jogs toward the dugout after crossing home plate after hitting a 2-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)