Justin Verlander got his MLB-leading 11th win, Yordan Alvarez hit his 26th homer and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 on Thursday to take the series 3-1.

Jose Altuve added a homer and three RBIs for the Astros, who bounced back after a 7-4 loss Wednesday night that snapped an eight-game winning streak.

Verlander (11-3) grinded through six innings, allowing seven hits and two runs — one earned — with eight strikeouts.

The Royals led 2-0 and Kris Bubic (1-6) had walked five batters but had allowed just one hit on a single by Jake Meyers in the second when Martín Maldonado doubled with one out in the fifth.

Altuve jumped on the first pitch of the at-bat, sending it into the seats in left field to tie it at 2-2.

There were two outs in the inning when Alvarez connected on his opposite-field shot to the first row in left field to put the Astros on top 3-2.

Houston added two insurance runs in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Altuve and an RBI double by Aledmys Díaz.

UP NEXT

Royals: Brady Singer (3-3, 4.30 ERA) will face Cleveland’s Aaron Civale (2-5, 7.05) on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series against the Guardians at The K. Pregame begins at 6:30, with game time at 7:10. You can hear the broadcast from the Royals’ Radio Network on KMMO AM 1300.