The Astros opened their three-game series in Kansas City with one of the wildest first innings you will ever see, and held on to win 10-8.
The Astros came out swinging. Jeremy Peña led off with a single, and Yordan Alvarez followed with a two-run homer to put Houston up 2-0 right out of the gate. Then Christian Walker answered with a homer of his own, making it back-to-back shots. And they were only just getting started.
Joey Loperfido walked and advanced to third on a throwing error. Cam Smith singled, and Taylor Trammell hit an infield single that scored Loperfido and moved Smith to third. Smith then scored on a passed ball. Vazquez walked and Peña walked to reload the bases.
After a tough start Luinder Avila came out of the game not even making it a whole inning. Mason Black stepped up to the mound with bases loaded and Yordan Alvarez up to bat, a very intimidating way to come into a game. Then, the worst case scenario for Black and the Royals. Yordan Alvarez crushed a grand slam, the sixth of his career. Six RBI in one inning for Alvarez alone.
Alvarez became the first player in MLB history to hit a grand slam and a multi-run homer in the first inning of a game. He is now tied with Kyle Schwarber for the MLB lead with 24 home runs.
The Astros sent nine runs across in the first inning and Tatsuya Imai took the mound with a 9-0 lead. Then things got interesting. Imai couldn't get through the first inning either, giving up five runs on four hits in just two thirds of an inning. Neither starter made it out of the first.
The first inning lasted 48 minutes, featured 98 total pitches, and was the third most pitches in a first inning since 2000. Fourteen combined runs scored, the third most in a first inning since 1974.
Neither team scored again until the eighth inning when the Royals drove in three runs to make it 9-8. Brice Matthews put the game away with a solo homer in the top of the ninth to make it 10-8. Josh Hader came in and closed it out for the save.
A chaotic, historic, and ultimately satisfying win for the Astros. The kind of game you won't forget.
