Houston Secures Tight Win Over Phillies Behind Rookie’s Heroics
In a tense matchup on Thursday night, the Houston Astros edged out the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1, thanks to a go-ahead RBI single by rookie Cam Smith in the eighth inning. The clutch hit off Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering (5-3) marked Smith’s second of the night and propelled the Astros to their fourth straight victory.
Philadelphia had finally managed to break a prolonged scoreless streak—26 consecutive innings—when Brandon Marsh delivered a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth to tie the game at 1-1. But Houston quickly responded in the bottom half of the frame with Smith’s pivotal hit.
Houston had initially taken a 1-0 lead early in the game, when Yainer Diaz hit an RBI single in the second inning. However, they struggled to generate much offense after that, managing just three more hits off Phillies starter Christopher Sanchez. Despite limited run support, Sanchez was dominant on the mound, striking out 11 batters without issuing a single walk across six innings. Remarkably, he has now gone three consecutive starts without allowing a walk.
On the Astros’ side, Hunter Brown delivered a stellar performance, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s premier pitchers. Brown lowered his MLB-best ERA to 1.74, allowing only three singles over seven shutout innings and striking out nine. He didn’t allow a single runner to reach second base, keeping the Phillies’ lineup off balance all night.
Bryan Abreu (3-3) played a critical role in sealing the win. He came on in the eighth and struck out Trea Turner to end a potential threat. In the ninth, Abreu was electric, fanning Kyle Schwarber, Alec Bohm, and Nick Castellanos to close out the game.
Rafael Marchan accounted for half of Philadelphia’s four total hits, while Bryson Stott reached base twice and scored their only run.
Around the National League
Cubs 3, Cardinals 0
In St. Louis, the Chicago Cubs earned a series split by shutting out the Cardinals, thanks in large part to left-hander Shota Imanaga, who returned from the injured list to throw five innings of one-hit ball. Imanaga (4-2) was sharp in his first appearance since recovering from a hamstring injury, retiring 10 consecutive batters after giving up a single in the first inning. The Cubs’ bullpen preserved the shutout, combining for four scoreless innings.
Offensively, Michael Busch homered and added a single, while Carson Kelly recorded two hits. The Cardinals, shut out in back-to-back games for the first time this year, struggled to generate any offense. Imanaga, an All-Star during his rookie season, lowered his ERA to 2.54 with the outing.
Dodgers 3, Rockies 1
In Los Angeles, veteran ace Clayton Kershaw inched closer to a career milestone by striking out five over six innings in the Dodgers’ win over the Rockies. Kershaw (4-0) now stands at 2,997 career strikeouts—just three shy of 3,000, a feat achieved by only 19 pitchers in MLB history. Shohei Ohtani continued his power surge with his 28th home run of the season.
Marlins 12, Giants 5
The Miami Marlins erupted offensively to complete a sweep of the San Francisco Giants. Kyle Stowers and Agustin Ramirez each homered, while Xavier Edwards chipped in a two-run double. The win extended Miami’s overall winning streak to four games and six straight on the road. Despite Rafael Devers’ strong performance—three hits, including a homer and a double—the Giants have now dropped eight of their last 11 games.
Mets 4, Braves 0
Five New York pitchers combined to shut out the Atlanta Braves, limiting them to just three hits. Jeff McNeil provided the big hit with a two-run single in the seventh inning, while Pete Alonso contributed three hits and an RBI. With the win, the Mets are now tied with the Phillies atop the NL East.
In the American League
Blue Jays 6, Guardians 0
Kevin Gausman was dominant, throwing eight innings of two-hit ball as the Toronto Blue Jays blanked the Cleveland Guardians. Alejandro Kirk and Nathan Lukes each drove in two runs to pace the offense. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left the game in the third inning after taking a 96 mph fastball to the arm, but X-rays revealed only a forearm contusion.
Gausman (6-6) was in command all night, throwing 104 pitches while walking just one and striking out six. Chad Green closed out the game to complete Toronto’s fifth shutout of the season.
Rays 4, Royals 0
Shane Baz delivered a career-best performance, pitching eight shutout innings with nine strikeouts to lead the Tampa Bay Rays past the Kansas City Royals. Baz (8-3) allowed only three hits and one walk in a dominant outing. Brandon Lowe and Junior Caminero added back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning to give Tampa Bay a comfortable cushion. The Rays have now won five of their last six games and are only a half-game behind the AL East-leading Yankees.
Tigers 8, Athletics 0
In Detroit, Dietrich Enns made a memorable return to the majors, tossing five scoreless innings in his first MLB appearance since 2021. Enns (1-0) allowed only one hit and two walks. After spending time pitching in Japan and South Korea, the 34-year-old left-hander made the most of his return. The Tigers offense provided plenty of support, handing Oakland starter Jeffrey Springs (5-6) his sixth loss of the season.
Twins 10, Mariners 1
Following a weather delay that lasted more than four hours, the Minnesota Twins exploded offensively, routing the Seattle Mariners. Trevor Larnach homered and drove in three runs, while Simeon Woods Richardson (3-4) pitched five shutout innings to earn the win.
Minnesota’s eight-run sixth inning was their most productive since April 2023. Brooks Lee began the rally with a solo homer, followed by RBI doubles from Byron Buxton and Willi Castro, a two-run single by Carlos Correa, and a two-run blast by Matt Wallner.
Summary
Thursday’s MLB action featured dominant pitching performances, tight finishes, and major milestones. The Astros rode a rookie’s bat and elite bullpen work to edge the Phillies, while Clayton Kershaw edged closer to 3,000 strikeouts in a Dodgers victory. Multiple shutouts across the league underscored the strength of starting pitching, and teams like the Rays, Marlins, and Mets continue to gain momentum. The second half of the season is shaping up to be a battle of depth, health, and consistency.
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