Putting up all the runs needed to secure the win in the first inning, the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals, 10-8, on Friday night. 

Designated hitter Yordan Alvarez did most of the damage when the Astros scored nine of their total output at the open of the game. 

Yordan Alvarez placed his name next to Jeff Bagwell in franchise history 

Alvarez connected on two home runs in the first inning. He became only the third Astros player to ever crush two home runs in one single inning, marking the first since Baseball Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell did so on June 6, 1994. 

Alvarez initially hit his first home run with one runner already on base and then went yard later in the inning with three more teammates on board. Following one inning of play, Alvarez already posted statistics more common for a full week's worth of games. 

He had two home runs and six RBI after his first two at-bats. Adding another hit later, Alvarez would finish going 3-for-5 with two long balls, the six runs sent home and scoring two runs himself.

Alvarez's historic inning and monster performance saw him leave the game with a tie for the MLB lead with 24 home runs and 54 RBI in 70 games and 252 at-bats in 2026. 

Yordan Alvarez would be an MVP candidate if the Astros were in contention 

As an early-season American League MVP candidate if he can help Houston get back in contention, Alvarez, now in his eighth season, is hitting .321 with a .433 OBP and a staggering .659 slug. 

But even with Alvarez's heroics in the win to open the series with the Royals, the Astros are only 32-29 and in second-to-last place in the American League West. 

Alvarez, a three-time All-Star and World Series champion (2022) at 28, is on pace to set new career-highs, surpassing the 37 balls he sent over the fence in 2022 and his 104 RBI from 2021.