Lance McCullers Jr. returned to form with a stellar six-inning performance, leading the Houston Astros to a 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. McCullers, who had been sidelined for two seasons due to injuries, secured his first win since September 2022, limiting the Pirates to just two hits while striking out seven. His duel with Pirates ace Paul Skenes was tightly contested, as Skenes also delivered an impressive outing, surrendering only one run over eight innings with eight strikeouts.

The Astros broke the scoreless tie in the seventh when Christian Walker launched an impressive solo home run, followed by Isaac Paredes's two-run shot in the ninth, sealing the game. Houston's pitching staff, including relievers Shawn Dubin, Bryan Abreu, and Josh Hader, combined for a shutout, marking their sixth of the season. This win is a significant boost for the Astros, who have now won seven out of their last nine games.