The Houston Astros enjoyed a commanding 10-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night, as both Jose Altuve and rookie Jacob Melton contributed three runs batted in. The Twins’ pitcher Chris Paddack struggled significantly, allowing 12 hits and nine runs—eight of which were earned—in just four innings, marking his third consecutive loss and tying his career high for runs given up.
Astros rookie starter Colton Gordon had a solid outing, pitching a career-best six innings while allowing six hits and two runs, alongside five strikeouts. His performance helped the AL West-leading Astros secure their third straight win. Additionally, Jeremy Peña matched his season-high with four hits, and rookie Cam Smith added two hits and two RBIs to the team’s offensive display.
For the Twins, who have faced considerable setbacks recently, Willi Castro, Royce Lewis, and Ty France each contributed solo home runs, but their struggles continued, having been outscored 16-4 and 16-3 in their previous games against Texas earlier in the week. Lewis, who had just returned from a hamstring injury, was forced to leave the game after sustaining another left hamstring strain while running to first base in the ninth inning. Manager Rocco Baldelli mentioned that further assessment of Lewis’s condition would be provided on Saturday.
The Astros quickly established dominance in the game. With the bases loaded in the first inning, Cam Smith drove in two runs with a single, while Melton added another run with a single of his own. Altuve later doubled the score with a two-RBI hit in the second inning. Melton’s two-run triple in the third inning further extended Houston’s lead to 7-0, and a sacrifice fly by Mauricio Dubón added another run.
The key moment in the game was undoubtedly Smith’s critical two-RBI single in the first inning, which set the tone for the Astros. Additionally, the Astros showed remarkable prowess with their hitting, tallying four doubles throughout the match, bringing their total to 15 in the last three games.
Looking ahead, the Astros will send right-hander Hunter Brown, boasting an impressive 1.82 ERA, to face the Twins’ Joe Ryan in the upcoming game on Saturday. The anticipation is high for both teams as the series continues, and with Houston’s current form, they look to maintain their winning streak.