Isaac Paredes homers in bottom of the 9th inning to lift Astros to 2-1 win over Royals

HOUSTON (AP) — Isaac Paredes hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the ninth inning to lift the Houston Astros to a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

The game was tied at 1 after a home run by Jeremy Peña in the sixth inning when Paredes led off the bottom of the ninth against John Schreiber (1-2). He sent his second pitch to left-center field for his fifth homer this season, giving Houston the win after Kansas City took the series opener Monday.

Both teams got strong outings from their starters. Houston’s Framber Valdez allowed six hits and a run with seven strikeouts in eight innings. Kris Bubic yielded six hits and a run and tied a career high with nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

Bryan Abreu (1-1) struck out one in a scoreless ninth for the win.

Hunter Renfroe doubled off the wall in left-center field with one out in the eighth. Valdez plunked Jonathan India on the foot with two outs, but he induced a groundout by Bobby Witt Jr. to end his night.

Houston Astros second baseman Brendan Rodgers (1) throws to first over Kansas City Royals’ Jonathan India (6) for a double play during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. India was out at second and Hunter Renfroe was out at first. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Maikel Garcia walked to open the fifth before a single by Vinnie Pasquantino sent him to third. The Royals took a 1-0 lead when Freddy Fermin singled on a ground ball to right field that scored Garcia.

Peña’s home run to left field tied it with no outs in the sixth. Jose Altuve followed with a double on a grounder down the third base line, but Bubic retired the next three batters, with two strikeouts, to leave him stranded.

Jake Meyers singled to start Houston’s seventh, but was out at second when Cam Smith grounded into a force out. Bubic was replaced by Lucas Erceg and he picked off Smith at first before striking out Brendan Rodgers to end the inning.

Key moment

The home run by Paredes.

Kansas City Royals’ Maikel Garcia (11) celebrates with Kyle Isbel (28) after scoring off of a single from Freddy Fermin during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Houston, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Key stat

Peña has three homers, four doubles, 24 hits and 13 RBIs in 15 games since moving to the leadoff spot.

Up next

Kansas City RHP Michael Lorenzen (3-3, 3.57 ERA) opposes LHP Colton Gordon in the series finale Wednesday night. Gordon will be recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to make his major league debut.