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Kansas City Royals at Houston Astros

MLBSeptember 16, 2026Daikin Park73°F, roof closed, wind 0 mph none

RoyalsKansas CityKCWon67-85

Royals 5, Astros 2

Final
AstrosHoustonHOU76-76
Score by inning
Team123456789RHE
KC000200030580
HOU000000011281

W Daniel Lynch IVL Cristian Javier

Rave and Massey homer as Royals beat Astros 5-2, dropping Houston into first-place tie with TexasJohn Rave hit a two-run homer, Michael Massey added a solo shot and the Kansas City Royals beat Houston 5-2 on Wednesday night, dropping the Astros into a first-place tie with the Texas Rangers in the AL West.Recap · ESPN

Scoring

Play-by-play

In order

Top 1st

  1.  Carter Jensen walks.
  2.  Bobby Witt Jr. walks. Carter Jensen to 2nd.KC 60%
  3.  Vinnie Pasquantino flies out to center fielder Daulton Varsho.KC 54%
  4.  Salvador Perez grounds out, second baseman Jose Altuve to first baseman Christian Walker. Carter Jensen to 3rd. Bobby Witt Jr. to 2nd.
  5.  Michael Massey pops out to first baseman Christian Walker in foul territory.HOU 55%

Bot 1st

  1.  Jeremy Peña doubles (19) on a sharp line drive to right fielder Nick Loftin.HOU 62%
  2.  Yordan Alvarez strikes out on a foul tip.
  3.  Isaac Paredes grounds out softly, catcher Carter Jensen to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.
  4.  Jose Altuve flies out to right fielder Nick Loftin.

Top 2nd

  1.  Nick Loftin singles on a line drive to left fielder Jorge Barrosa.KC 54%
  2.  John Rave pops out to second baseman Jose Altuve.
  3.  Josh Rojas singles on a line drive to center fielder Daulton Varsho. Nick Loftin to 3rd.KC 57%
  4.  Isaac Collins strikes out on a foul tip.HOU 50%
  5.  Carter Jensen flies out sharply to right fielder Cam Smith.

Bot 2nd

  1.  Yainer Diaz grounds out, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.
  2.  Christian Walker flies out to right fielder Nick Loftin.
  3.  Cam Smith pops out to second baseman Michael Massey.

Top 3rd

  1.  Bobby Witt Jr. flies out to left fielder Jorge Barrosa.
  2.  Vinnie Pasquantino lines out sharply to center fielder Daulton Varsho.
  3.  Salvador Perez strikes out swinging.

Bot 3rd

  1.  Daulton Varsho grounds out to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.
  2.  Jorge Barrosa walks.
  3.  Jeremy Peña singles on a ground ball to left fielder Isaac Collins. Jorge Barrosa to 2nd.
  4.  Yordan Alvarez grounds into a double play, second baseman Michael Massey to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Jeremy Peña out at 2nd. Yordan Alvarez out at 1st.HOU 51%

Top 4th

  1.  Michael Massey singles on a fly ball to center fielder Daulton Varsho.KC 55%
  2.  Nick Loftin flies out to center fielder Daulton Varsho.
  3.  John Rave homers (6) on a fly ball to right field. Michael Massey scores.KC 73%
  4.  Josh Rojas flies out to center fielder Daulton Varsho.
  5.  Isaac Collins grounds out to first baseman Christian Walker.

Bot 4th

  1.  Isaac Paredes strikes out swinging.
  2.  Jose Altuve grounds out, third baseman Josh Rojas to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.
  3.  Yainer Diaz pops out to second baseman Michael Massey.

Top 5th

  1.  Carter Jensen flies out to right fielder Cam Smith.
  2.  Bobby Witt Jr. pops out to shortstop Jeremy Peña.
  3.  Vinnie Pasquantino flies out to center fielder Daulton Varsho.

Bot 5th

  1.  Christian Walker strikes out swinging.
  2.  Cam Smith lines out to left fielder Isaac Collins.
  3.  Daulton Varsho pops out to catcher Carter Jensen in foul territory.

Top 6th

  1.  Salvador Perez lines out to center fielder Daulton Varsho.
  2.  Michael Massey singles on a line drive to right fielder Cam Smith.
  3.  Nick Loftin walks. Michael Massey to 2nd.
  4.  John Rave strikes out swinging.
  5.  Josh Rojas grounds out, shortstop Jeremy Peña to first baseman Christian Walker.

Bot 6th

  1.  Jorge Barrosa grounds out, second baseman Michael Massey to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.
  2.  Jeremy Peña singles on a fly ball to right fielder Nick Loftin.
  3.  Yordan Alvarez flies out to right fielder Nick Loftin.
  4.  Isaac Paredes grounds into a force out, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to second baseman Michael Massey. Jeremy Peña out at 2nd.

Top 7th

  1.  Isaac Collins singles on a ground ball to center fielder Daulton Varsho.
  2.  Carter Jensen grounds out, pitcher Bryan King to first baseman Christian Walker. Isaac Collins to 2nd.
  3.  Bryan King intentionally walks Bobby Witt Jr.
  4.  Vinnie Pasquantino flies out to center fielder Daulton Varsho.
  5.  Salvador Perez grounds out, shortstop Jeremy Peña to first baseman Christian Walker.

Bot 7th

  1.  Jose Altuve singles on a line drive to center fielder John Rave.KC 70%
  2.  Yainer Diaz singles on a line drive to center fielder John Rave. Jose Altuve to 2nd.KC 60%
  3.  Christian Walker flies out to right fielder Nick Loftin.KC 70%
  4.  Nelson Velázquez strikes out swinging.KC 78%
  5.  Daulton Varsho flies out to right fielder Nick Loftin.KC 84%

Top 8th

  1.  Michael Massey homers (12) on a fly ball to right field.KC 93%
  2.  Jac Caglianone strikes out swinging.
  3.  John Rave grounds out to first baseman Christian Walker.
  4.  Josh Rojas walks.
  5.  Isaac Collins walks. Josh Rojas to 2nd.
  6.  Astros challenge (tag play): Carter Jensen doubles (33) on a line drive to right fielder Jorge Barrosa. Josh Rojas scores. Isaac Collins scores. Carter Jensen to 3rd.KC 99%
  7.  Bobby Witt Jr. called out on strikes.

Bot 8th

  1.  Jorge Barrosa walks.
  2.  Jeremy Peña flies out to right fielder John Rave.
  3.  Yordan Alvarez doubles (31) on a sharp line drive to center fielder Kyle Isbel. Jorge Barrosa to 3rd.
  4.  Isaac Paredes out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Kyle Isbel. Jorge Barrosa scores.
  5.  Jose Altuve grounds out softly, third baseman Josh Rojas to first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.

Top 9th

  1.  Vinnie Pasquantino walks.
  2.  Salvador Perez lines out sharply to shortstop Jeremy Peña.
  3.  Michael Massey strikes out swinging.
  4.  Kyle Isbel grounds out softly, third baseman Isaac Paredes to first baseman Christian Walker.

Bot 9th

  1.  Yainer Diaz homers (12) on a line drive to left field.
  2.  Christian Walker strikes out swinging.
  3.  Joey Loperfido called out on strikes.
  4.  Daulton Varsho singles on a ground ball to right fielder John Rave.
  5.  Jorge Barrosa strikes out swinging.

Top 4th

  1.  KC 2, HOU 0John Rave homers (6) on a fly ball to right field. Michael Massey scores.KC 73%

Top 8th

  1.  KC 3, HOU 0Michael Massey homers (12) on a fly ball to right field.KC 93%
  2.  KC 5, HOU 0Astros challenge (tag play): Carter Jensen doubles (33) on a line drive to right fielder Jorge Barrosa. Josh Rojas scores. Isaac Collins scores. Carter Jensen to 3rd.KC 99%

Bot 8th

  1.  KC 5, HOU 1Isaac Paredes out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Kyle Isbel. Jorge Barrosa scores.

Bot 9th

  1.  KC 5, HOU 2Yainer Diaz homers (12) on a line drive to left field.

Win probability

Top 4th · Biggest swing #1 · KC 2–0 HOU

John Rave homers (6) on a fly ball to right field. Michael Massey scores.

See it in the scoring summary
KC 73%KC +23 pts

Game leaders

RoyalsKansas City

AstrosHouston

Team stats

  • KC 8HitsHOU 8
  • KC 2Home runsHOU 1
  • KC 7WalksHOU 2
  • KC 6StrikeoutsHOU 7
  • KC 25Left on baseHOU 16
  • KC 1Stolen basesHOU 0
  • KC 0ErrorsHOU 1
All team stats
  • KC 5RHOU 2
  • KC 12bHOU 2
  • KC 4RbiHOU 2
  • KC 35AbHOU 33
  • KC 9.0IpHOU 9.0
  • KC 8HHOU 8
  • KC 2RHOU 5
  • KC 2ErHOU 4
  • KC 2BbHOU 7
  • KC 7SoHOU 6
  • KC 1HrHOU 2
  • KC 136PHOU 149
  • KC 8AHOU 5
  • KC 27PoHOU 27
  • KC 35TcHOU 33

Box score

BattingABRHRBIHRBBSOAVG
Carter Jensen C4011010.232
Bobby Witt Jr. SS3000021.278
Vinnie Pasquantino 1B4000010.237
Salvador Perez DH5000001.229
Michael Massey 2B5231101.282
Nick Loftin RF2010010.231
Jac Caglianone PH1000001.278
Kyle Isbel CF1000000.221
John Rave RF4112101.219
Josh Rojas 3B3110010.240
Isaac Collins LF3110011.221
Totals35584276

2B: Jensen.HR: Massey, Rave.RBI: Jensen, Massey, Rave 2.SB: Jr..LOB: 25.

PitchingIPHRERBBSOPERA
Daniel Lynch IV W5.020013723.29
Craig Kimbrel1.010000174.50
Nolan Hoffman0.12000064.35
Anthony Gose0.20000150.00
Nate Pearson1.011110162.51
Steven Cruz1.021103204.13

Video

0:08Bench availability for Kansas City, September 16 vs Astros0:10Starting lineups for Royals at Astros - September 16, 20260:09Bullpen availability for Kansas City, September 16 vs Astros0:06Probable pitchers for Royals at Astros - September 16, 2026
All 29 clips

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