Another injury scare for Houston. Composite Getty Image.
Astros first baseman Christian Walker left Wednesday's game against the Athletics after being hit by a pitch on his right hand.
Manager Joe Espada said that he was hit on the top of his hand near his knuckles and that X-rays were negative.
“That's a good sign,” Espada said. “So we'll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Walker was hit by a 96 mph pitch from Luis Severino in the fourth inning. He writhed in pain for a few seconds before trotting to first base, where he was examined by a trainer.
He remained in the game and scored on a two-out single by Cam Smith.
Walker played defense in the next two innings before being replaced by pinch-hitter Mauricio Dubón in the bottom of the sixth.
“He played defense and once he came back for his at-bat, we asked him to grip a bat and he wasn't very comfortable doing that,” Espada said.
Cam Smith takes center stage in Astros' blowout win
Jun 18, 2025, 1:16 am
Cam Smith hit two of Houston's five home runs and finished with four hits as the Astros routed the Athletics 13-3 on Tuesday night to halt their four-game winning streak.
CAM SOLO SHOT!#VoteCam ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHQMR1 pic.twitter.com/7rrvEtpEm0
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 18, 2025
Jason Alexander, claimed off waivers from the Athletics last month, pitched six shutout innings for Houston before tiring in the seventh. Mauricio Dubón, Christian Walker and Cooper Hummel also homered for the Astros.
Smith and Dubón went back-to-back in the fourth.
AIRCRAFT. CARRIER. #VoteCam pic.twitter.com/UcXm8NVs60
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 18, 2025
Smith connected for leadoff shots in the second and fourth. He drove in three runs and scored three times. The 22-year-old rookie has five major league homers — and two multihomer games.
Dubón followed Smith's second home run with his second this season for a 5-0 lead against A's starter JP Sears, who walked the bases loaded in the first before giving up a two-run single to Jake Meyers.
Smith finished off his first four-hit game with an RBI double in the eighth.
Alexander (1-0) threw a season-high 95 pitches in his 12th career start and first since Sept. 18, 2022, with Milwaukee. He allowed three runs — two earned — and three hits.
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