PITTSBURGH — Lance McCullers Jr. experienced a significant moment of relief on Tuesday night.
The Houston Astros pitcher delivered an impressive performance with six scoreless innings, securing his first victory since September 21, 2022, as his team triumphed over the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 3-0 win. This victory was particularly meaningful for McCullers, who had been sidelined for both the 2023 and 2024 seasons due to injuries and had yet to win any of his five starts since returning from the injured list on May 4.
In a strong showing, McCullers (1-1) recorded seven strikeouts and issued just one walk, ultimately outperforming the Pirates’ standout pitcher Paul Skenes. Skenes managed to yield only one run, which stemmed from a solo home run by Christian Walker in the seventh inning, over his impressive eight-inning stint.
Reflecting on his performance, McCullers expressed contentment with the outcome, stating, “It took a while, but we got there. I’m just happy that I’m kind of back in the mix with the guys, and I’m able to give them legitimate opportunities to win.”
Off the field, McCullers was also relieved to put a distressing situation behind him. A drunken individual, who resides overseas, issued online death threats against McCullers and his family; the individual later expressed remorse to Houston police, according to a department spokesperson.
The threats were directed at McCullers’ children via social media following a challenging game against the Cincinnati Reds on May 10, where he allowed seven runs and recorded just one out. The Astros informed both the Houston police and Major League Baseball security of the threats, prompting Astros owner Jim Crane to arrange 24-hour security for McCullers’ family.
Erika Ramirez, a police public information officer, indicated that the person behind the threats had been identified during the investigation. However, details about his identity or whereabouts were not disclosed as no charges had been filed.
Expressing gratitude, McCullers acknowledged, “I don’t 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. Having resolution is nice. Not being close to Houston is nice. The fans are super supportive, too, and I appreciate that. It’s good that it’s behind us and our family feels safe again.”
Additionally, the man expressed a desire to apologize directly to McCullers. In response, McCullers conveyed his willingness to accept the apology, citing his personal beliefs, “As a follower of Christ and called to love our neighbor and forgive, I would be open to that.”