José Altuve blasts three-run homer as Astros top Guardians 9-3

José Altuve crushed a three-run home run to lead the Houston Astros past the Cleveland Guardians 9-3 on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.

What happened in Houston?

Altuve’s eighth home run of the season came on the first pitch from Guardians reliever Matt Festa. The ball landed in the first row of the left-field Crawford Boxes, giving Houston an early lead it never relinquished. Jeremy Peña followed with two solo shots, including a seventh-inning leadoff bomb that stretched his season total to six homers. Peña finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Altuve added an RBI double to set a season-high with four RBIs.

Tatsuya Imai turned in a career night on the mound, fanning a season-high 11 batters over six innings without a walk. He allowed three runs on six hits, retiring the final 11 he faced after Rhys Hoskins’ two-run shot in the third. The Guardians’ Tanner Bibee was charged with four runs, three earned, over 5 1/3 frames.

Why it matters for José Altuve

At 35, Altuve’s power surge has fueled Houston’s push for October. His eighth homer ties his 2024 output through the same point, but this blast came in a must-win spot against a top-tier bullpen. The Astros improved to 58-42, staying a half-game back of Texas in the AL West.

Peña’s resurgence adds another weapon. The 28-year-old shortstop has homered in three straight games, giving Houston a dynamic 1-2 punch atop the order. Altuve’s four RBIs marked his first multi-RBI effort since June 29, a sign his bat is heating up just as the trade deadline looms.

Astros’ rotation keeps rolling

Imai’s 11-strikeout, zero-walk gem was the first such outing by an Astros hurler since Yusei Kikuchi did it on Aug. 31, 2024. Houston’s staff now ranks third in MLB with a 3.62 ERA, led by Spencer Arrighetti’s 7-2 record. The righty faces Joey Cantillo on Saturday in a battle of young arms.

What comes next

Houston wraps up the three-game set in Cleveland on Saturday before a quick turnaround at Detroit. The Tigers, fresh off a series win over the Yankees, sit 10 games back but own the AL’s top run differential over the last 30 days. Altuve and the Astros aim to keep the pressure on Texas, who just split a four-game set with Seattle.