Bobby Witt Jr., Royals overpower Astros

Bobby Witt Jr. homered twice, leading the Kansas City Royals over the visiting Houston Astros 13-3 on Thursday afternoon to complete a three-game sweep.

The Royals sent 15 batters to the plate in the first inning — scoring nine — capped by Witt's opposite-field, two-run homer.

Vinnie Pasquantino, Nick Loftin and Maikel Garcia delivered two-run singles ahead of Witt's homer as Kansas City tied a club record with 11 hits in the inning, all against starter Hunter Brown (0-2), who recorded two outs.

Kansas City totaled 16 hits in winning its seventh consecutive game.

Witt led off the sixth with his third hit and stole second, then scored on Pasquantino's third hit, a double into the right-field corner. Pasquantino has eight RBIs in his last two games after none in his first 10.

In the seventh, Witt again went to the opposite field, delivering a three-run blast for his fourth home run.

Witt matched a career high with four hits, recording his third career multi-homer game and first since May 26, 2023, against the Washington Nationals.

Brady Singer (2-0) finished five innings, allowing a run on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

Yainer Diaz led off the Houston fourth with his third home run, 432 feet into the fountains in left-center.

Mauricio Dubon's two-out RBI in the sixth against reliever Nick Anderson snapped a 19 1/3-inning scoreless streak by the Royals bullpen. Yordan Alvarez's bases-loaded walk cut the deficit to 9-3. Alvarez's 16-game hitting streak against Kansas City ended.

Diaz and Dubon each had two of the Astros' 11 hits, while Jose Altuve had three hits to extend his streak of reaching safely to 14 games, a career best to open a season.

Infielder Grae Kessinger pitched a hitless eighth for Houston.

Dating to last September, the Royals have won six consecutive games and 8 of 9 against the Astros.

In recording consecutive series sweeps against the Chicago White Sox and Houston, Kansas City outscored opponents 48-13.

Over the first three innings this season, the Royals have outscored opponents 37-6.

— Field Level Media