KANSAS CITY (Interstat) — Jose Altuve’s two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning broke a tie and lifted the Houston Astros to an 8-7 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Kauffman Stadium.

The Astros, who evened their season record at 33-39, struck first in the fourth inning when Christian Walker launched a two-run homer to left field, scoring Yordan Alvarez, to give Houston a 2-0 lead. The Royals had already scored once in the second on a single by Michael Massey that brought home Jac Caglianone, and they added two more in the third inning. Bobby Witt Jr. singled and Vinnie Pasquantino delivered a run-scoring single, while Maikel Garcia’s strikeout was confirmed on a challenge but the Royals still pushed across a second run on a walk and a strikeout to make it 3-2.

Kansas City extended its lead in the bottom of the fourth when Lane Thomas homered to left center, his third of the season, making it 4-2. The Astros answered quickly. In the top of the fifth, Brice Matthews belted a two-run homer to center field, scoring Jake Meyers, to tie the game at 4-4.

Houston took the lead in the sixth when Jake Meyers homered to left center, his third, making it 5-4. The Astros had a chance to add more but left the bases loaded. The Royals responded in the bottom of the sixth with a three-run outburst. Salvador Perez singled, Michael Massey doubled, and Lane Thomas walked to load the bases. Carter Jensen then cleared the bases with a double to center field, scoring three runs and putting the Royals ahead 7-5. Bobby Witt Jr. followed with a double to put runners at second and third, but Isaac Collins grounded into a double play to end the inning, with Carter Jensen thrown out at home plate.

The score remained 7-5 until the top of the eighth. With one out, Isaac Paredes was hit by a pitch. Altuve then crushed a fly ball to left field, his sixth home run of the season, scoring Paredes and tying the game at 7-7. Houston added an insurance run in the ninth. Joey Loperfido walked, moved to third on a single by Yordan Alvarez, and scored when Christian Walker grounded into a force out. Walker reached first on a throwing error by second baseman Nick Loftin.

The Royals threatened in the bottom of the ninth when Bobby Witt Jr. led off with a double, his second of the game and his 19th of the season. Isaac Collins then lined out to shortstop Jeremy Peña, who doubled off Witt Jr. at second base to end the game.

Bryan King earned the win, improving to 1-1 on the season, after pitching a scoreless seventh inning. Bryan Abreu recorded his fifth save of the season, working a perfect ninth. Alex Lange took the loss, falling to 0-4.

Christian Walker finished with two hits and two RBIs, including his 18th home run. Brice Matthews also had two hits and two RBIs. For Kansas City, Carter Jensen drove in three runs with a double. Bobby Witt Jr. had two doubles and a single. Lane Thomas homered and drove in a run. The Astros and Royals each collected 11 hits in the game.

The game, which drew an announced crowd of 17,881, lasted 2 hours, 51 minutes. Houston won its second straight game in the series after a 10-8 victory on Friday. The Royals fell to 28-43 on the season.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Kansas City 5, Houston 4, and its ELO system gave the Royals a 50.90 percent probability to win. Kansas City was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The combined total of 15 runs went under the over/under line of 9.