McCullers leads Astros to a 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates
PITTSBURGH -- Lance McCullers Jr. finally got some peace of mind Tuesday night as the Astros right-hander pitched six scoreless innings to get his first win since Sept. 21, 2022. McCullers, who sat out the 2023 and 2024 seasons due to injuries, had not won in five starts this year since being activated from the injured list on May 4.
McCullers (1-1) struck out seven and walked one, outdueling Pirates ace Paul Skenes. The game saw a solo homer by Christian Walker in the seventh inning, adding to the Astros' lead.
"It took a while, but we got there," McCullers said. "I'm just happy that I'm kind of back in the mix with the guys, and I'm able to give them legitimate opportunities to win."
Aside from his on-field success, McCullers was relieved to have a difficult off-field situation resolved. An intoxicated bettor who made online death threats aimed at McCullers' family has since apologized to the pitcher and his family.
"I don't want to keep on about it, but a lot of thanks go to the Astros, the Astros security, Jim Crane, MLB security, my teammates, the HPD," McCullers said. "Having resolution is nice. Not being close to Houston is nice."
Shawn Dubin, Bryan Abreu, and Josh Hader worked an inning apiece to complete a four-hitter, with Hader converting all 16 of his save opportunities this season. Houston's victory marked their seventh win in nine games.
The Astros' sixth shutout of the season was a stark contrast to the Pirates being blanked for the 10th time in 61 games.
