In a thrilling series opener, the Chicago Cubs flexed their muscles with a dominant 7-2 victory over the visiting Houston Astros on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. Mike Tauchman emerged as the offensive catalyst for the Cubs, launching two towering home runs and driving in four crucial runs. His first homer came in the very first inning, a three-run blast that set the tone for the evening. Cody Bellinger also contributed significantly, adding a two-run homer to the Cubs’ early offensive onslaught.
On the mound, Jordan Wicks delivered a stellar performance for Chicago. Over six innings of work, he surrendered just two runs on five hits, striking out four batters and walking none. This impressive outing marked a season-high in innings pitched for the young right-hander.
The Cubs’ bullpen also played a pivotal role in securing the victory. Ben Brown, Mark Leiter Jr., and Yency Almonte combined for three scoreless innings of relief, effectively shutting down the Astros’ offense.
Meanwhile, the Astros struggled to find their footing offensively. Jake Meyers hit a solo home run, but the team’s overall production was lackluster. Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker managed to collect two hits each, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Cubs’ offensive firepower.
In a worrying development for the Astros, Cody Bellinger was forced to exit the game in the seventh inning due to a right rib contusion. He had earlier collided with the center-field wall while attempting a catch. His status for future games remains uncertain.
The Cubs, buoyed by their strong start to the series, will look to extend their winning streak when they face the Astros again on Wednesday. The Astros, on the other hand, will be desperate to break their losing streak and salvage a positive result from this three-game set.
