As the calendar turns into September, Yordan Alvarez knows that it's time to tune up his home run swing for the Houston Astros. Alvarez was showing off his power game on Sunday, hitting two homers as the Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 7-2. The victory also helped Houston secure a four-game sweep over the Royals at Minute Maid Park.
Alvarez now has 30 homers this season with a full month ahead to build on that total. It's no secret that as Alvarez goes hitting, so go the Astros. He's been a solid postseason weapon for the two-time World Series champions. The Astros have now won five in a row and are 75-62 this season, 13 games over .500. Meanwhile, Kansas City has lost five straight, its longest losing streak this season.
Ronel Blanco (10-6) went five innings in his start for the Houston Astros. Blanco gave up three hits while striking out three en route to his first victory since June. Taylor Scott, Hector Neris, Bryan Abreu and Kaleb Ort followed Blanco. Thanks to Jeremy Peña's two-run, eighth-inning single, closer Josh Hader didn't have to enter the game. Hader did warm up in the Astros' bullpen, but sat down after Houston went up 7-2.
Royals' superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. hit his second home run in two days. That gives him 30 homers for the season, The Associated Press reported. If Witt can get a few more stolen bases in the coming weeks, then he'll have a 30-homer, 30-stolen-base season.
Alvarez slammed a solo homer off Kansas City starter Alec Marsh (7-8) in the fourth inning.
Royals Add Pham, Gurriel, Grossman
Royals' outfielder Tommy Pham, whom Kansas City picked up after his release from the St. Louis Cardinals, caught Alvarez's long fly ball in the eighth inning. Alvarez just missed getting another three-homer game. Pham joined Kansas City in a series of moves the team made in the past 24-36 hours. Outfielder Robbie Grossman and infielder Yuli Gurriel joined the team's roster.
For Gurriel, it was a homecoming of sorts. He played vital roles in both World Series championships for the Houston Astros. The Royals picked him up in a trade with the Atlanta Braves. Gurriel smacked an RBI single to left field in the sixth inning.
Witt's homer came off Neris. A Yanier Diaz double and Peña's two-run single wrapped up the scoring for the Astros.
With the win, the Houston Astros are a Major League-best 68-43 since April 27, MLB.com reported. Houston owns the tiebreaker over the Royals by winning the season series, 4-3.
So, the Astros had some good news to deliver on the injury front on Sunday. Outfielder Kyle Tucker keeps working to get back into the lineup. It's looking like this might happen next week. Third baseman Alex Bregman didn't play due to his elbow inflammation issues. Astros manager Joe Espada said swelling around Bregman's elbow is about gone. Espada said Bregman could be back in the Astros lineup on Monday.
Outfielder Jake Meyers, who started in center field on Sunday, was placed on the Houston Astros paternity list after Sunday's game. Outfielder Chas McCormick was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land.
The Astros now head out to Cincinnati for a series against the Reds. The two teams will play in a Monday afternoon game for a Labor Day spotlight showdown. Justin Verlander (3-4, 4.16 ERA) starts for Houston while Cincinnati has not named its starting pitcher.
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