What happened: Yordan Alvarez broke the game open in the top of the first inning with a towering grand slam to center field, his 24th home run of the season. The blast drove in Taylor Trammell, Christian Vázquez, and Jeremy Peña, punctuating a dominant nine-run frame that stunned the home crowd.

Why it matters: The early explosion underscores why Yordan Alvarez remains a premier American League MVP candidate. Scoring nine runs before recording three outs provides a nearly insurmountable cushion and allows the pitching staff to aggressively challenge hitters. The grand slam continues a power surge that has kept the lineup among the most dangerous in the league as the mid-season All-Star break approaches.

What to watch: Houston will look to cruise behind their massive lead, while the opposing pitching staff faces a long afternoon of damage control.