HOUSTON – The Chicago Cubs showcased an impressive offensive display against the Houston Astros, cruising to a 12-3 victory and ending Houston’s five-game winning streak. Kyle Tucker was at the heart of the action, launching a pivotal three-run homer and recording four hits — equaling his season high. What made Tucker’s performance even sweeter was that it came against the Astros, the team that traded him away last December.
Tucker’s contribution didn’t stop at the plate, as he crossed home plate four times, setting the tone for a Cubs offense that tallied up 15 hits on the night. Dansby Swanson also made significant contributions with three hits, while Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch, and Nico Hoerner added to the long ball tally.
The Cubs managed to highlight the fourth inning with a significant surge, clubbing three homers. This marked the second time this season Chicago achieved such a feat in one inning. Busch and Hoerner began proceedings with consecutive solo shots, swinging the momentum in their favor with a 3-2 lead before Tucker’s three-run bomb stretched it further to 7-2.
On the mound, Colin Rea recorded a strong performance, allowing just two runs across five innings of work. His only lapse came when Astros rookie Cam Smith hit a two-run homer in the third inning, momentarily granting Houston a 2-1 lead. Notably, Smith, who was part of the trade package sent to Houston for Tucker, marked his night with two hits, achieving back-to-back homers for the first time in his young career.
On the Astros’ side, Lance McCullers Jr. found difficulties on his return from the injured list, conceding eight runs from seven hits across 3 1/3 innings. Nonetheless, Isaac Paredes, another player acquired in the Tucker trade, managed to impress by hitting his 17th home run.
The turning point of the matchup was undoubtedly Tucker’s fourth-inning homer, which comfortably positioned the Cubs 7-2 ahead of the Astros.
A concerning stat for McCullers was his 10.89 ERA in home games this season contrasted with a clean slate in road starts, having not given up an earned run in three outings.
Looking ahead, the series will wrap up with Houston’s leftie Framber Valdez (8-4, 2.88 ERA) facing the Cubs’ right-hander Jameson Taillon (7-5, 4.77 ERA) on Sunday.