Astros' Hunter Brown leads 7-3 victory over Royals

Hunter Brown led the Houston Astros to a 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals, allowing just one run over six innings with nine strikeouts, and ending his impressive 28-inning scoreless streak—the fifth longest in franchise history. Yordan Alvarez broke the Astros' 26-inning scoreless drought with a three-run homer, while Jeremy Peña contributed three RBIs from the leadoff spot. Brown's dominant start to the season has drawn comparisons to former Astros aces Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, particularly as he continues to post elite numbers and enters the American League Cy Young Award conversation. However, analysts note that Brown's approach differs from his predecessors, relying on a distinct pitch mix rather than the classic high fastball-heavy style. The Astros' win allowed them to avoid a sweep by the Royals and sets them up for a homestand against the Detroit Tigers. Meanwhile, Brown's performance solidifies his growing reputation as one of the league's most effective starters this season.