Rookie Cam Smith's two homers led the Houston Astros to a 13-3 rout of the Oakland Athletics on June 18, 2025. Recap the rookie's huge night!
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when you thought the Oakland Athletics were getting hot, the Houston Astros rolled into town and dropped an absolute anvil on their four-game winning streak. In a stunning display of power, the Astros crushed the A's 13-3, and the undisputed star of the show was rookie sensation Cam Smith, who looked less like a newcomer and more like a seasoned slugger with a two-homer, four-hit masterpiece.
Rookie Cam Smith finished 4-for-5 with two home runs, three RBIs, and three runs scored in his first career four-hit game.
It was a career night for Cam Smith, who is quickly making a name for himself as an indispensable part of this lineup. The rookie wasted no time, launching leadoff solo shots in both the second and fourth innings. He wasn't done there, adding an RBI double and another single to complete his first-ever four-hit game in the majors. Now with five home runs on the season and two multi-homer games already under his belt, Smith is proving that the future of the Astros' offense is in very good hands. His performance was a clinic in hitting, driving in three and scoring three times himself.
The storyline writes itself. Just last month, Jason Alexander was claimed off waivers from the Oakland Athletics. On Wednesday, he took the mound for his first start as an Astro *against* his former team and delivered a gem. Alexander was masterful for six full innings, holding the A's completely scoreless and baffled. He tired a bit in the seventh, ultimately leaving with a final line of three runs (two earned) over 6+ innings, but the damage was done. Earning the win with a season-high 95 pitches, Alexander gave the bullpen a much-needed rest and gave the Astros front office a big reason to smile about their waiver wire find.
While Smith stole the headlines, he had plenty of help. The Astros' offense was a well-oiled machine, launching five home runs in total. Mauricio Dubón went back-to-back with Smith in the fourth inning, Christian Walker clubbed his 10th of the season, and Cooper Hummel joined the party with his first big-league homer since 2022. The scoring started early with a two-run single from Jake Meyers in the first, setting the tone for the relentless offensive pressure that Oakland's pitching simply couldn't handle.
Year after year, analysts point to the Astros' 'low-ranked' farm system, yet year after year, Houston produces impactful major league talent. Cam Smith is just the latest example. As the organization's top prospect, he's not just meeting expectations; he's shattering them. His immediate success is a testament to the Astros' incredible player development system, which consistently finds and molds players into key contributors. It's a reminder that a farm system's value isn't just in its ranking, but in its ability to produce players who win games at the highest level.
With a dominant 42-31 record, this 13-3 thrashing was more than just a single win; it was a statement. It showed the depth of the offense, the potential of its new arms, and the star power of its rookies. As the Astros look to take the series against Oakland, they'll carry the momentum of this explosive victory, proving once again that when this team is clicking, they are one of the most dangerous forces in baseball.
