Astros 6, Twins 4
The Houston Astros defeated the Minnesota Twins 6–4 on Tuesday night at Daikin Park after erasing an early three-run deficit behind Yordan Alvarez‘s fourth-inning grand slam.
The Astros fell behind 3–0 in the opening inning, but Alvarez delivered the game’s biggest swing with a go-ahead grand slam. Mike Burrows recovered after a difficult start, and the Astros’ pitching staff protected the lead over the final four innings to even the series.
Astros – Twins Game Summary
The Twins grabbed control early by capitalizing on command issues in the opening inning. Trevor Larnach drew a leadoff walk before Kody Clemens singled to put runners in scoring position. Victor Caratini forced home the first run after being hit by a pitch, and Ryan Kreidler followed with a two-run single that stretched the lead to 3–0.
The Astros turned the tables in the fourth inning. Cam Smith and Taylor Trammell reached safely before Yainer Diaz lined an RBI single to bring home the club’s first run. Raynel Delgado later drew a walk, and Jose Altuve followed with a bases-loaded walk after an ABS challenge overturned the original strike call. With the bases still loaded, Alvarez launched a grand slam to right-center field, turning a one-run deficit into a 6–3 Astros lead.
The Twins answered in the fifth after Clemens singled and Josh Bell ripped an RBI double into the gap, trimming the deficit to two runs. Burrows limited the damage by striking out Royce Lewis to strand Bell in scoring position.
From there, the Astros’ relievers took control. Enyel De Los Santos, Steven Okert, Bryan King, and Josh Hader combined to retire the Twins over the final four innings without allowing another run, closing out a series-evening victory at Daikin Park.
What Went Right for the Astros
Yordan Alvarez
The Astros spent the first four innings trying to recover from the opening-frame deficit. Alvarez changed everything with one swing. After Diaz drove in a run and consecutive walks loaded the bases, Alvarez attacked a pitch over the heart of the plate and drove it into the right-center field seats for a grand slam. Instead of chasing the game, the Astros suddenly controlled it.
Recovery after the Opening Inning
Burrows faced immediate trouble after allowing three runs in the first inning. Instead of unraveling, the right-hander settled into a rhythm. He retired hitters efficiently through the middle innings, recorded key strikeouts, and prevented another big inning. The Twins scored once more in the fifth, but Burrows limited further damage and completed five innings. His recovery gave the Astros an opportunity to complete their comeback.
Relief Pitching Closed the Door
The Astros received four strong innings of relief after Burrows exited. Enyel De Los Santos retired all three hitters he faced in the sixth. Steven Okert struck out two during a scoreless seventh before Bryan King worked a perfect eighth. Josh Hader finished the ninth with two strikeouts to earn the save. The group never allowed the Twins another opportunity to erase the lead.
What Went Wrong for the Astros
The Opening Inning
The Twins needed only two hits to score three runs in the first inning. Walks, a hit batter, and a defensive miscue created multiple scoring opportunities before Kreidler’s two-run single capped the rally. Burrows threw 35 pitches in the inning and immediately forced the Astros to play from behind.
Missed Chances to Add Insurance
The Astros placed runners on base in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings but never produced another run. Christian Walker and Cam Smith both reached during those opportunities, yet the Twins escaped each threat.
What’s Next
The Astros and Twins conclude their three-game series on Wednesday at Daikin Park.
The Astros are expected to start Tatsuya Imai (5-3, 5.36 ERA, 58 strikeouts). The Twins are projected to counter with Taj Bradley (6-3, 3.98 ERA, 91 strikeouts).
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First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Central.
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