No. 13 Texas Tech opens Big 12 title defense vs. No. 22 Houston, and league goes international again

Houston Astros' winning streak ended at one as they fell 5-2 to the Kansas City Royals. Jeremy Peña, who had challenged the first pitch of the game and won when the call was overturned, had a productive series against the Phillies last week. However, he struggled once again, with his six hits coming over two games. The Astros' pitching also had issues, with Cristian Javier allowing 5 hits, 3 walks, and 2 runs over 5.1 innings.

Despite a brief moment of hope in the seventh inning with two singles by Jose Altuve and Yainer Diaz, the Astros were unable to capitalize, as the Royals extended their lead with a solo home run by Michael Massey. Carter Jensen broke the game open with a 2-run RBI double in the eighth inning, bringing home Isaac Collins and Josh Rojas.

De Los Santos was charged with all three runs in the inning. The Astros managed to score once more in the bottom of the eighth with a sac fly by Isaac Paredes. Yainer Diaz hit his 12th homer of the season in the bottom of the ninth, but it was too little, too late. The Texas Rangers remained atop the A.L. West with a 76-76 record, tying the Astros.