HOUSTON, TX – June 27, 2025 – The Houston Astros kept their winning ways alive last night at Daikin Park, defeating the Chicago Cubs 7-4 in the first game of their interleague series. Rookie phenom Cam Smith and catcher Yainer Díaz each launched crucial three-run home runs to power the Astros’ offense.
Astros left-hander Brandon Walter (1-1) earned his first Major League win, pitching six solid innings and allowing just one earned run on five hits while striking out five. Josh Hader (S, 22) secured his 22nd save, closing out the game. For the Cubs, starter Cade Horton (3-2) took the loss, struggling through four innings and surrendering seven runs on eight hits.
The game was scoreless through the first two innings, but the Astros broke it open in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded, Victor Caratini hit a sacrifice fly to score Jose Altuve, giving Houston a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, with two outs and runners on, Yainer Díaz crushed a three-run home run to left-center field, his 10th of the season, extending the lead to 4-0.
The Astros weren’t done. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Cam Smith, facing his former team since being traded from the Cubs, launched a massive three-run home run to left field off Horton, his 6th of the season. This blast pushed Houston’s lead to a commanding 7-0. Smith finished the night 2-for-2 with 2 runs, the homer, and 3 RBIs, also drawing two walks.
The Cubs managed to get on the board in the top of the fifth when Nico Hoerner hit a solo home run off Walter. They added two more in the seventh with a two-run double from Matt Shaw, and a final run in the ninth with another RBI double from Shaw. However, the Astros’ early lead proved insurmountable.
Notably, former Astro Kyle Tucker played in his return to Houston as a Cub, going hitless. Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña exited the game in the fifth inning with left rib soreness after being hit by a pitch earlier in the game.
The victory marked the Astros’ fifth consecutive win, improving their record to 49-33 and giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-game series against the Cubs.
