Alvarez's Comeback Slam
Yordan Alvarez's Grand Slam Sparks Six-Run Inning as Astros Rally Past Twins 6-4
Yordan Alvarez crushed a 422-foot grand slam to turn a three-run deficit into a lead, powering the Houston Astros to a 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins on May 31, 2024. The blast — hit at 108.4 mph off Joe Ryan — was the centerpiece of a six-run fourth inning that completely flipped the game at Minute Maid Park. Daily Item reported the decisive frame saw Cam Smith and Jeremy Peña also factor in before Alvarez delivered the knockout blow.
Minnesota had looked comfortable at 3-0 through three innings. Then one swing changed everything. "I was just looking for a pitch in the zone I could drive," Alvarez said after the game. "In that situation, you aren't thinking home run, just a good swing."
A Six-Run Fourth Inning Erases Minnesota's Lead
The Twins led 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth. Jeremy Peña and Jake Meyers reached base first. Then Jose Altuve drove in a run with a single to make it 3-1. Alex Bregman drew a walk to load the bases. That set the stage for Alvarez, who launched his seventh career grand slam to right-center field. In one swing, Houston went from trailing by two to leading 5-3, according to KTVB.
Chas McCormick added a solo home run later in the same inning to push the lead to 6-3. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli summed it up simply: "One inning got away from us. Joe [Ryan] actually threw the ball well, but against a hitter like Alvarez, you can't miss by an inch."
Ryan Jeffers Sparked Minnesota's Fast Start
The Twins did not fall behind quietly. Catcher Ryan Jeffers hit a solo home run off Astros starter Ronel Blanco in the first inning. Minnesota added two more runs in the third on base hits and a sacrifice fly to go up 3-0. Joe Ryan was sharp through the early innings, keeping Houston's lineup in check, according to Stamford Advocate.
Ryan pitched through the sixth inning despite the disastrous fourth. That decision helped save Minnesota's bullpen for later in the series. Carlos Correa — making a return trip to his former home — hit a solo shot in the sixth to cut the deficit to 6-4. But Houston's lead held.
Hader Slams the Door in the Ninth
With a two-run lead and the Twins' lineup coming up in the ninth, Houston turned to closer Josh Hader. He struck out two batters and locked down the save. Hader earns $19 million per year and had faced questions during Houston's rough start to 2024. This outing helped quiet those doubts, according to WD Times.
Ronel Blanco earned the win on the night. He finished with a 3.22 ERA after the outing. Manager Joe Espada credited both players after the game: "That's what Yordan does. He changes the game with one swing. But the way Blanco settled down was the key to giving us that chance."
Astros Use Win to Claw Back Toward .500
Houston had one of the worst starts in franchise history in April 2024, sitting 10 games under .500 at one point. This win was their fourth comeback victory of the month. It moved them closer to the .500 mark and put pressure on the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers in the AL West, according to Yahoo Sports.
The game drew a near-sellout crowd of more than 38,000 fans at Minute Maid Park. The win also carried added weight because it came against the Twins — the same team Houston beat 3-1 in the 2023 American League Division Series. Old rivalries and new stakes made this one feel bigger than a regular-season game in May.
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