How everything lined up for the Astros at just the right time
GOING DEEP
04 June
GOING DEEP
Lance McCullers Jr. pitched six sparkling innings for his first win since 2022, and Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes hit late home runs as the Houston Astros beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0 on Tuesday night.
McCullers (1-1) won a tight duel with Pirates ace Paul Skenes, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out seven. It was his first win since Sept. 21, 2022, at Tampa Bay.
LMJ set the tone. #BuiltForThis x @budweiserusa pic.twitter.com/PKbdBlDu56
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 4, 2025
The right-hander missed the past two seasons because of injuries, then was winless in his first five starts this year after being activated from the injured list on May 4.
Skenes (4-6) was nearly as dazzling in defeat, giving up one run and three hits in eight innings. He struck out eight and walked one as the Pirates lost for the third time in four games.
Skenes’ record is two games under .500 despite a 2.05 ERA.
Walker hit a first-pitch sweeper from Skenes into the left-field bleachers with one out in the seventh to break a scoreless tie. It was the first baseman’s eighth home run this season.
WALKER BOMB!#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/SyQFK9IcOp
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 4, 2025
Paredes added a two-run shot in the ninth, his 12th, off Dennis Santana.
ISAAC ADDS 2!#BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/GQ6GF6sexQ
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 4, 2025
Shawn Dubin, Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader worked an inning apiece to complete the four-hitter. Hader his converted all 16 of his save opportunities this season.
Houston won the opener of a three-game series for its seventh victory in nine games.
The Astros pitched their sixth shutout of the year. The Pirates have been blanked 10 times in 61 games.
With the Pirates down 1-0 and runners on first and second with one out in the eighth, Oneil Cruz grounded into a forceout. Then he was caught stealing to end the inning.
Skenes has pitched at least eight innings three times in his two-year career and the Pirates have lost all three games.
Ryan Gusto (3-2, 4.62 ERA) starts Wednesday night for Houston against fellow rookie right-hander Mike Burrows (0-1, 8.64).
Yainer Diaz and Mauricio Dubón each had three hits, and the Houston Astros beat the Washington Nationals 7-4 on Tuesday night to stop a five-game slide.
EL MATÍN. 😤 pic.twitter.com/6luKH1Nxub
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 30, 2025
Christian Walker had two hits and two RBIs for the AL West-leading Astros. Bennett Sousa (5-0) got four outs for the win, and Josh Hader struck out the side in the ninth for his 28th save.
Luis García Jr. hit a two-run drive for last-place Washington, which had won three straight and five of seven overall. CJ Abrams had three hits.
García connected for his ninth homer in the third inning, lifting the Nationals to a 2-1 lead. But Diaz responded with a solo shot in the fourth for his 14th homer.
Walker singled and scored on Cooper Hummel’s pinch-hit single in the fifth, and the Astros grabbed control with three more runs in the sixth.
Altuve singled home Dubón for a 4-2 lead, and Walker followed with a two-run single against Andry Lara.
Andrew Chafin (1-1) took the loss.
Washington right-hander Michael Soroka allowed two runs and four hits in 3 1/3 innings in his final start before Thursday’s trade deadline.
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