Houston Astros top the Chicago Cubs 7-4 on June 28, 2025, for their 10th straight home win, powered by homers from Yainer Diaz and Cam Smith. Read more!
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Welcome to Daikin Park, where the Houston Astros simply don't lose anymore. The home cooking was extra sweet on Saturday as the 'Stros dispatched the Chicago Cubs 7-4, securing their 10th consecutive victory in Houston. The win was a classic Astros formula: a stellar start from Brandon Walter and game-changing power from the bats of Yainer Diaz and rookie sensation Cam Smith.
The Astros have been virtually unbeatable in June, posting an 18-6 record with a +39 run differential for the month.
The game was a tight affair until the third inning when Yainer Diaz stepped to the plate and blew it wide open with a towering three-run homer. Not to be outdone, rookie Cam Smith followed suit in the very next inning, launching a three-run shot of his own. Those two swings accounted for six of the team's seven runs, providing all the cushion the pitching staff would need. Victor Caratini added a sacrifice fly for good measure, but the story of the offense was the long ball.
While the homers will grab the headlines, Brandon Walter's performance on the mound was the foundation of this victory. The starter was magnificent, navigating the Cubs lineup for six strong innings while allowing just a single earned run and punching out six. It was the definition of a quality start, eating up innings and preserving the high-leverage arms in the bullpen for later in the series.
The Cubs didn't go quietly. A late rally, sparked by two RBI doubles from Matt Shaw, cut the lead to 7-4 and had fans shifting in their seats. But as he's done all season, closer Josh Hader entered the game and promptly slammed the door. Hader's clean ninth inning secured the win, the 10th straight at home, and his latest save of the season.
This win pushes the Astros to an impressive 49-33 record, keeping them firmly atop the AL West. Their performance in June has been nothing short of spectacular. And a key part of that success is the 'Astro Way' of developing talent. Rookie Cam Smith, with his game-changing home run, is the latest example. As senior director of player development Jacob Buffa noted, the organization excels at finding and maximizing talent from late-round picks and international signings, proving that farm system rankings don't tell the whole story.
With a five-game winning streak overall and ten straight at home, the Astros are firing on all cylinders as they head into the final game of the series against the Cubs. They'll look to complete the sweep tomorrow and carry this incredible momentum into July. Right now, there's no hotter team in baseball, and Houston is the place to be.
