The Houston Astros kicked off the final two-week stretch of their season with a 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals last night at Daikin Park, but don’t let the score fool you. While Jeremy Peña smashed two homers and Yordan Alvarez went deep for his 39th of the year, this victory was a stark reminder of the offensive struggles still plaguing the squad.
The Stars Shine, But Only Them
Talk about a roller coaster. Jeremy Peña, who’s been battling a slump as the leadoff man, absolutely crushed two home runs. And Yordan Alvarez, the slugger we all know and love, finally got one out, his 39th of the season. But get this: it was only his fourth homer in his last 36 games! Yeah, that six-week power dip is real, and it has absolutely contributed to the Astros’ diminished offense since the August 3 trade deadline. Together, these two were the *entire* offense, delivering all four of the Astros’ hits against Royals starter Michael Wacha. Alvarez even drew two walks.
The Rest of the Lineup Is a Ghost Town
While Peña and Alvarez provided all the offense, the rest of the lineup was nowhere to be found, going a combined 0-for-22 with zero walks. Ouch. Luckily, ace Hunter Brown, who couldn’t protect a four-run lead in his last start in Philadelphia, showed up big time. He looked dominant for five innings, giving up just one run and tying his season-high with 10 strikeouts. Brown handed a 4-1 lead to the bullpen, which has been the backbone all season. Bennett Sousa gave up a solo shot to Vinnie Pasquantino in the sixth, but AJ Blubaugh, Bryan Abreu, and Josh Hader slammed the door shut for the final nine outs.
This win moves the Astros to 76-75, and they maintained a minimal American League West lead, staying at least a game ahead of the Rangers with just 11 games left. They beat a last-place Royals team playing out its season, sure, but seeing Peña and Alvarez flash that power is crucial. The question is, can the rest of the lineup wake up, or will this team rely on just two guys to buoy them in the final stretch?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply