HOUSTON, TX – Jeremy Peña delivered a season-high four hits, including a decisive RBI single in the top of the eighth inning, as the Houston Astros rallied to defeat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Wednesday night.
Trailing 3-2 heading into the eighth, the Astros mounted a comeback after Zach Dezenzo singled with one out. Pinch-runner Chas McCormick entered the game and promptly scored when Mauricio Dubón laced his second double of the night into the left-field corner, tying the score and prompting the Royals to pull pitcher Michael Lorenzen (3-4).
Carlos Estévez came in relief for Kansas City, but Peña quickly capitalized, lining his third pitch into left field to drive Dubón home and give Houston the 4-3 lead.
Astros closer Josh Hader shut down the Royals in the ninth, walking one but ultimately securing his 10th save of the season. Bryan King (1-0) earned the win for Houston after pitching a scoreless eighth inning.
Isaac Paredes continued his power surge for the Astros, homering for the second consecutive game. His solo shot in the ninth inning on Tuesday night had already secured a 2-1 victory for Houston.
Maikel Garcia led the Royals’ offense, hitting a home run and a double as Kansas City built an early 3-1 advantage. Garcia put the Royals on the board in the second inning with a towering solo homer. Later in the inning, Jonathan India drove in another run with an RBI double off the left-field wall.
Dubón’s first double of the game came in the sixth inning, and he scored on a subsequent double by Peña, pulling the Astros within one run at 3-2.
Houston starting pitcher Colton Gordon made his major league debut, allowing seven hits and three runs in 4 1/3 innings. Lorenzen took the loss for the Royals, surrendering seven hits and four runs in his 7 1/3 innings on the mound.
A key defensive play for the Astros came in the third inning when center fielder Jake Meyers made a stellar catch on the warning track to rob Hunter Renfroe of extra bases with runners on first and second and two outs.
Paredes’ home run in the fourth inning cut into the Royals’ lead, but Garcia responded with an RBI double that bounced off second base and into the outfield, extending Kansas City’s lead to 3-1.
The pivotal moment of the game came in the eighth inning with Dubón’s RBI double that tied the score and forced the Royals to make a pitching change.
Notably, Jeremy Peña has been on a hot streak since moving to the leadoff spot 16 games ago, hitting .438 with five doubles, three home runs, 15 RBIs, and 28 hits during that stretch.
The Kansas City Royals will have an off day on Thursday before returning to Kauffman Stadium to host the St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game series beginning on Friday.
