The Houston Astros enter Tuesday's game against the visiting Kansas City Royals with sluggers Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker on a roll.

Before Alvarez inflicted what has become his customary damage in the bottom of the ninth inning on Monday, he teamed with Tucker, a fellow left-handed hitter, to swing momentum by capitalizing on a situation that would typically prove disadvantageous to both.

The Astros' 7-6 victory over the Royals in the opener of a four-game series pivoted when Alvarez and Tucker delivered against Royals lefty reliever Amir Garrett. Houston entered the eighth inning trailing by three runs before Alvarez worked a walk off Garrett two batters before Tucker produced a two-run single against Garrett that sliced the deficit to 6-5.