Álvarez, Díaz, Maldonado HR, Astros beat KC, 5th straight win

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Yordan Álvarez, Aledmys Díaz and Martín Maldonado each homered and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 10-3 on Friday night for their fifth straight victory.

Álvarez, who would have agreed to a six-year, $115 million deal, also had a pair of singles for his fifth consecutive multi-hit game. His 15 home runs rank him second in the American League behind Aaron Judge of the Yankees.

Díaz opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the second and added two singles for his first three-hit game of the season.

“It’s always great when I get the chance to be in the lineup and contribute to the team,” Díaz said. “I know the role I have in this team. I try to stay alert in the cage and see lots of videos.

Díaz was in the lineup at third base in place of Alex Bregman, who was given a scheduled day off.

“He put us on the board,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “He got three hits tonight. It’s always good when you can give a guy a day off and give him a day to play and then he’s fine. He had a great game. »

Maldonado and Álvarez each hit two-run homers in the fifth against Brady Singer (2-1), who allowed seven runs on eight hits in five innings.

“Brady’s stuff was really good today,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “I know the numbers didn’t look like that, but he had everything he needed. He made a mental mistake in Díaz, but the other two home runs were really good pitches. Anything he found anywhere near the plate, they found barrel.

The singer accepted.

“I thought the order was good,” he said. “I was attacking the area and throwing strikes. I just made bad throws at difficult times and they did damage.

Kansas City has lost 12 of its 14 games.

Maldonado’s fourth homer was nearly caught by Kyle Isbel as he disappeared inches behind the center field wall.

“I know the guy has a good lead and I saw something in the strike zone and put a good swing on it,” Maldonado said. “I thought he caught it. I know how hard it is to hit a ball through the middle here. I don’t have the Yordan power. He barely got out.”

José Urquidy (5-2) retired 16 of 17 batters after Whit Merrifield started the first inning with the first of two singles. Urquidy went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk, stoking six.

“Urquidy was finding too much plate in this round,” Baker said. “Sometimes he throws too many strikes. He was finding the heart of the plate and it was time to get him out of there.

Bobby Witt Jr. hit a three-run homer, a 443-foot drive into left-field fountains with one out in the sixth. It’s Kansas City’s first runs since Round 7 on Tuesday.

“I knew I was missing some fastballs the last time I was at bat and just wanted to take a good, smooth swing the next one,” Witt said. “I guess I did and it was pretty good.”

Witt’s seven home runs lead the Royals.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals OF Michael A. Taylor reinstated from COVID-19 injured list; OF Dairon Blanco has been designated for assignment. Astros LHP Blake Taylor left the game with left elbow discomfort after throwing six pitches; he will return to Houston for further consideration.

TRANSACTIONS

Kansas City acquired RHP Albert Abreu from the Texas Rangers for RHP pitcher Yohanse Morel, who was with Class A Quad Cities; LHP Foster Griffin was opted for Triple-A Omaha.

NEXT

RHP Luis Garcia (3-3, 3.14 ERA) goes for Houston and Kris Bubic (0-3, 12.83) takes the mound for Kansas City on Saturday afternoon.

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