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Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez Moves Up Historic List With Latest Multi-Home Run Game

Yordan Alvarez crushed two home runs against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, helping the Houston Astros slugger make history among Cuban MLB players.

Sam Connon

Sep 1, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez (44) holds a baseball after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Minute Maid Park.
Sep 1, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez (44) holds a baseball after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Minute Maid Park. / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
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The Houston Astros completed a four-game sweep against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, thanks in large part to a historic showing from Yordan Alvarez.

The power-hitting left fielder got Houston on the board with a leadoff home run in the fourth, pulling a curveball 369 feet to right. He stepped up to the plate again in the sixth and delivered a 404-foot solo homer to center, putting the Astros on top 4-1.

Houston went on to win 7-2, as Alvarez finished the day 2-for-4 with two homers.

As noted by TSN's StatsCentre, Alvarez now ranks fourth all-time among Cuban-born MLB players with 21 career multi-home runs games. He was previously tied for fourth with his former Astros teammate, José Abreu, who has 20.

Jose Canseco owns the record with 36 such performances, followed closely by Rafael Palmeiro with 34. Before Alvarez can challenge them, though, he needs to pass Kendrys Morales and his 22 multi-home run games.

Alvarez is batting .314 with 30 home runs, 73 RBI, a .971 OPS and a 4.9 WAR this season. He has six multi-home run performances so far in 2024, highlighted by his three-homer showing against the Philadelphia Phillies last Wednesday.

The 27-year-old was named an All-Star for the third consecutive season earlier this summer. After winning AL Rookie of the Year in 2019, Alvarez placed third in AL MVP voting in 2022 and 13th in 2023, and he could easily earn votes again this fall.

Alvarez has the third-most home runs in the American League over the last four seasons, trailing only Aaron Judge and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in that span.

The Astros, who are an AL-best 63-38 since May 9, are set to open up a series with the Cincinnati Reds at 4:10 p.m. ET on Monday. Houston currently owns a 6.0-game lead in the AL West.

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Sam Connon

SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a Staff Writer for Fastball on the Sports Illustrated/FanNation networks. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's All Bruins, 247Sports' Bruin Report Online, Rivals' Bruin Blitz, the Bleav Podcast Network and the Daily Bruin, with his work as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk.

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