Before we dive into the recap tonight, let’s make one thing crystal clear: The threats against Lance McCullers Jr. and his family following his start against the Reds are completely and entirely unacceptable. Over a freaking baseball game. Absolutely appalling and vile.
A heated Joe Espada began his postgame news conference by revealing that threats against Lance McCullers Jr’s family and life were made after today’s start. The Astros say they’ve notified HPD and MLB security about the threats.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) May 11, 2025
Lance McCullers Jr: “I understand people are very passionate and people love the Astros and love sports, but threatening to find my kids and murder them is a little bit tough to deal with.”
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) May 11, 2025
There is no place for this kind of behavior in baseball or in society as a whole. I hope the individuals who made these threats are held accountable, and that the McCullers family can feel safe again.
Back to less important things…
For the recap, the game itself was basically over before it ever really started.
Lance McCullers Jr. and Logan VanWey struggled on Saturday evening, allowing twelve runs in 2 1⁄3 innings. Ten runs crossed the plate in the first inning before the Astros even had a single at-bat. Bennett Sousa, Tayler Scott, Steven Okert, and Kaleb Ort threw a combined 6 2⁄3 innings of one-run ball (via Scott) to at least give the lineup a chance to climb back.
The lineup did make things interesting in the third inning, putting up a six-spot to shorten the deficit from 12-1 to 12-7. Christian Walker had a two-run triple. Isaac Paredes had a RBI double. Victor Caratini hit a two-run home run. Unfortunately, the Astros could only generate two more runs the rest of the way, putting any improbable comeback hopes firmly to bed. But the lineup has shown some energy in the past two games, and hopefully, it is a sign of improvement to come.
But in a game we would all like to forget, Jose Altuve was also removed due to tightness in his right hamstring. The severity of his injury has not been revealed yet.
Jose Altuve exited today’s game with “right hamstring tightness,” the Astros announced.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) May 11, 2025
The Astros are now .500 again with a 19-19 record. Ronel Blanco gets the start in the rubber game against the Reds on Sunday, starting opposite right-hander Chase Petty.