ON THE WAY OUT

Dynamo sell “Cubo” Torres to Pumas UNAM for reported $2 million transfer fee

Dynamo sell “Cubo” Torres to Pumas UNAM for reported $2 million transfer fee
Cubo Torres' time with the Dynamo is at an end. Victor Araiza/SportsMap

Erick “ Cubo” Torres’ time in Houston is up.

The Houston Dynamo have parted ways with the 25-year-old Mexican forward after Liga MX side Pumas UNAM completed his purchase for a reported $2 million fee on Wednesday night. Torres was at Houston Sports Park Wednesday morning but by nightfall he was in Mexico City to be announced as a new signing on a national broadcast of his new club’s 3-0 win over Club Juarez in Copa MX.

"It's the best moment of my career and personal life,” said Torres to Televisa Deportes. "I've just turned 25 and have experience in the national team, youth national teams and in important clubs. I'm coming at an age at which, without doubt, I will do big things."

The Dynamo signed Torres to a five-year deal after purchasing him from Liga MX side Club Guadalajara for a reported $7 million in December of 2014. He played the first six months of his deal in Mexico as part of a loan and did not debut in Houston until July 27, 2015 in a 3-0 home win vs. LA Galaxy.

Torres broke out for the Dynamo in 2017 with 14 goals - surpassing Brian Ching’s club record for most MLS goals in a season - after failing to find the back of the net in his first two years. Eight of those goals came in the first 10 matches of the season with his last goal coming as part of a double that rescued a 3-3 draw on August 23 at rival FC Dallas.

“My mind right now is on making a great preseason,” said Torres on Tuesday morning after the Dynamo opened their preseason. “There’s a World Cup coming, I don’t know what could happen. I’m preparing myself for that, to apply pressure, to be in the sight of [Mexican National Team Manager] Juan Carlos Osorio.”

Torres was the highest paid player on the Dynamo in 2017 with a base salary of $650,000, according to the Major League Soccer Players Association website. Houston fielded the team with the lowest team salary in the league as they made a run to the Western Conference final.

Major League Soccer, like several other pro leagues in the United States, operates with a salary cap. The Dynamo had shopped Torres previously in an effort to clear up cap space.

Dynamo GM Matt Jordan will be on Soccer Matters Thursday night with Glenn Davis at 7 p.m. on ESPN 97.5.

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The Astros beat the Cubs, 7-4. Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images.

Cam Smith hit a three-run homer in his first game against the Cubs since being traded to Houston and Brandon Walter threw six solid innings in his first MLB victory as the Astros beat Chicago 7-4 on Friday night.

Yainer Diaz added a three-run homer as AL West-leading Houston extended its winning streak to five games.

The Astros scored four runs in the third off Cubs starter Cade Horton (3-2), with Jose Altuve scoring on a sacrifice fly by Victor Caratini before Diaz capped the inning with his 377-foot shot to left-center.

Smith, a first-round draft selection by Chicago last year was acquired by the Astros in the offseason as part of the deal for Kyle Tucker, extended Houston’s lead to 7-0 in the fourth with his home run off the left field façade, his sixth of the season. Smith had two hits and scored two runs.

Walter (1-1), a 28-year-old left-hander, allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts. Josh Hader got the final out for his 22nd save.

Jeremy Peña exited in the fifth with left rib soreness. He was hit by a pitch in his left side in the second. There was no immediate word on the extent of his injury.

Nico Hoerner hit a solo home run in the fifth, and Matt Shaw added a two-run double in the seventh and an RBI double in the ninth for NL Central-leading Chicago.

Horton allowed seven runs on eight hits with four walks in four innings.

Tucker was hitless in his return to Houston. He kept the game scoreless in the first, throwing Isaac Paredes out at the plate to end the frame.

Key moment

Hader inducing a lineout to center by Ian Happ to end it with Tucker, representing the tying run, on deck.

Key stat

Houston has its second five-game winning streak for the month of June, and improved to an MLB-best 18-6 this month.

Up next

Cubs RHP Colin Rea (4-3, 4.42 ERA) starts the second game of the three-game series Saturday. Houston has not named a starter.

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