WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART
For McCullers and the Astros, this one hit different
Jun 4, 2025, 12:15 pm
McCullers is finally back in the win column. Composite Getty Image.
Lance McCullers Jr. finally got some peace of mind on Tuesday night.
The Astros right-hander pitched six scoreless innings to get his first win since Sept. 21, 2022, as Houston beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0. McCullers missed the 2023 and 2024 seasons because of injuries and had not won in five starts this year since being activated from the injured list on May 4.
Lance McCullers Jr.'s stuff was nasty tonight đŽđ¨ pic.twitter.com/ZjzZTDJZkl
â MLB (@MLB) June 4, 2025
McCullers (1-1) struck out seven and walked one while outdueling Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who gave up one run â on a solo homer by Christian Walker in the seventh â in eight innings.
âIt took a while, but we got there,â McCullers said of getting the win. âIâm just happy that Iâm kind of back in the mix with the guys, and Iâm able to give them legitimate opportunities to win.â
McCullers was also happy to have a difficult off-field situation behind him.
A drunken bettor who made online death threats aimed at McCullersâ family lives overseas and told Houston police he was sorry for what he had done, a department spokesperson said Monday.
McCullers received the threats on social media directed at his children after a poor start against the Cincinnati Reds on May 10 in which he allowed seven runs while recording only one out.
The Astros said Houston police and MLB security were notified. McCullers and his wife Kara have two young daughters. Astros owner Jim Crane hired 24-hour security for them.
Police public information officer Erika Ramirez said the man who made the threats was identified during an investigation. Because no charges have been filed, police are not disclosing his identity or where he lives.
âI donât want to keep on about it, but a lot of thanks go to the Astros, the Astros security, Jim Crane, MLB security, my teammates, the HPD,â McCullers said. âHaving resolution is nice. Not being close to Houston is nice. The fans are super supportive, too, and I appreciate that. Itâs good that itâs behind us and our family feels safe again.â
The man told police that he would like to apologize to McCullers for the threats. McCullers said he would accept.
âAs a follower of Christ and called to love our neighbor and forgive, I would be open to that,â he said.
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JosĂŠ Soriano pitched 6 2/3 strong innings and Logan O'Hoppe hit a pair of two-run shots to end a long home run drought and help the Los Angeles Angels beat the Houston Astros 9-1 on Saturday night.
Soriano (5-5) struck out 10 and allowed one run on three hits and three walks. He has allowed just two runs in his last three starts covering 20 2/3 innings with 28 strikeouts. He hasn't allowed a home run since April 22 â a span of 11 starts.
OâHoppe hit his 15th homer and first since May 22 in the third inning to give the Angels a 6-0 lead. The catcher capped the scoring with his second of the game in the seventh.
Jo Adell reached with a one-out infield single off Astros rookie Brandon Walter (0-1) in the second and Luis Rengifo followed with his fourth home run for a 2-0 lead.
Nolan Schanuel was hit by a pitch and Mike Trout singled and scored from first on a double by Taylor Ward for a 4-0 lead.
Jose Altuve walked and scored on a two-out single by Christian Walker in the fourth for the Astros, but the Angels answered in their half when Zach Neto doubled with two outs and scored on Schanuel's single for a 7-1 lead.
Walter allowed seven runs on nine hits in six innings in his fourth career start.
Key moment
The Angels never looked back after Rengifo homered in the second.
Key stat
Houston is 3-2 against the Angels this season and leads the overall series 133-85. That includes a 65-45 record at Angel Stadium.
Up next
Astros rookie RHP Ryan Gusto (4-3, 4.31 ERA) will start Sunday's rubber game against Angels RHP Kyle Hendricks (5-6, 4.79).