The Astros scored early and often against the always surprising Chicago White Sox.
Christian Walker had a three-hit, four-RBI day…
…and that was really all Houston would need.
Ryan Gusto (4-3, 4.56) tossed the first Quality Start of his career, striking out seven and keeping the Pale Hose to two runs on seven hits and a walk. Gusto put 60 of his 91 offerings in the black, as called by Umpire Chris Conroy. Meanwhile, the Astros offense figured out Sean Burke (3-7, 4.71) pretty quickly.
Isaac Paredes and Jose Altuve got things going with consecutive one-out first-inning doubles. Christian Walker (9) brought the total to 3-0 two batters later with a drive into the cheap seats.
Christian Walker crushes his 9th homer of the season for the Houston Astros! What a blast! ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/Rty7JoEHzy
— MiloX Sports MLB (@MiloXSportsMLB) June 12, 2025
In the third inning, Altuve got on with a two-out single and moved to second on a Yainer Diaz walk. Walker then collected two more RBI by driving them in with his ninth double of the season. Cam Smith, Jeremy Peña and Paredes each hit a fourth-inning double to bring the score to 7-0. Burke was lifted after 3 2⁄3 innings, allowing all seven runs on eight hits and a walk, striking out four.
Chicago finally got in on the act with a pair of fifth-inning runs on three hits, but that was the last time they dented the scoreboard. Houston got one back in their half of the frame, on a non-RBI run-scoring Victor Caratini double play ball. The Astros added another pair in the eighth, with RBI courtesy of a Jacob Melton single and a Paredes single.
Bryan King pitched a solid seventh, allowing a hit and striking one batter out. Steven Okert struck out four over the final two innings, facing the minimum six batters and permitting none of them access to the basepaths.
Walker and Paredes both finished with three hits, while Peña, Altuve, Díaz, and Smith each had a pair. White Sox reliever Owen White pitched the final 4 1⁄3 innings for Chicago, collecting five strikeouts and allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks.
Houston and Chicago finish up their season series tonight, with the Astros attempting to tie the set at three games each. Davis Martin (2-6, 3.62) will take the hill against Framber Valdez (6-4, 3.07).