Astros Cap 4-2 Win Over Royals With Late Homers

Early Power Surge Sets Tone

The Houston Astros established a commanding lead early in their 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Daikin Park on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Jeremy Peña drove the first run of the game in the top of the first inning with a 440-foot home run to left center.

He added another blast in the top of the third, sending a 370-foot shot to left field to extend the Astros' lead to 2-0. The Royals managed only one run in the bottom of the fifth, as Jensen’s double allowed Collins to score, bringing the game to 2-1. However, the Astros responded immediately in the same inning.

Yordan Alvarez homered to right field for his 39th of the season, driving in Peña to make the score 4-1. Pasquantino hit a 376-foot home run to right center in the sixth for Kansas City’s final run, leaving the final margin at 4-2.

Pitching Duel

Hunter Brown earned the win for Houston, pitching five innings. He allowed two hits and one earned run while walking three batters and striking out 10. Michael Wacha took the loss for the Royals.

He pitched six innings, allowing four hits and four earned runs while issuing one walk and recording two strikeouts. The Astros bullpen closed out the game with strong performances. Bennett Sousa pitched one inning, allowing one hit and one earned run with one strikeout.

AJ Blubaugh followed with one scoreless inning, allowing no hits, no walks, and one strikeout. Bryan Abreu also pitched one scoreless inning, allowing no hits, no walks, and one strikeout. Josh Hader secured the save, pitching one inning, allowing one hit, and striking out one while walking none.

Game Statistics and Records

The Astros finished the game with a record of 76-75, while the Royals fell to 66-85. Attendance at Daikin Park was 28,635. The game featured exactly four home runs, all detailed in the scoring sequence.

No other extra-base hits or defensive errors were noted in the official scoring plays. The Astros' offensive production was concentrated in the first half, with three of their four runs coming before the fifth inning. The Royals’ best offensive moment came in the sixth inning with Pasquantino’s solo homer.

The pitching lines confirm that Hunter Brown was the winning pitcher and Michael Wacha was the losing pitcher. The save was recorded by Josh Hader, marking his 26th of the season. The game concluded with the Astros holding a two-run lead, a result that solidified their position in the standings without any further playoff implications stated in the official box score data.

Sources

ESPN