The Cubs fell to the Astros 7-4 on June 28 as former prospect Cam Smith's revenge homer off Cade Horton proved decisive. Read the full game recap.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a script baseball seems to write all too often. In his first game against the team that drafted and developed him, Cam Smith delivered a decisive blow, a three-run homer that propelled the Houston Astros to a 7-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Daikin Park on Saturday. While the loss stings, the day was a complex mix of what-ifs, offensive sparks, and a reminder of the high-stakes trades that define a championship contender.
Rookie Matt Shaw, after early struggles, has found his footing, contributing two doubles and three RBI in the game against Houston.
The game unraveled quickly for Cubs starter Cade Horton. A promising start turned sour in the third inning when Houston plated four runs, capped by a three-run shot from Yainer Diaz. The very next inning, the narrative turned personal. Cam Smith, the centerpiece of the offseason trade that brought Kyle Tucker to Chicago, launched a three-run homer of his own, extending the Astros' lead to 7-0. Horton's final line was a rough one: seven earned runs on eight hits and four walks in just four innings. It was a stark reminder of the power of the long ball and the sometimes painful cost of blockbuster trades.
Despite the early deficit, the Cubs' prolific offense refused to go quietly. Nico Hoerner, a model of consistency, got the Cubs on the board with a solo home run in the fifth. The biggest bright spot was rookie Matt Shaw, who seems to be finding his groove at the big-league level. Shaw drove in three of the team's four runs with a two-run double in the seventh and another RBI double in the ninth. It's a promising sign from the young infielder, who joins an offensive core featuring MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker, and NL RBI leader Seiya Suzuki. The late rally brought the tying run to the on-deck circle, but Ian Happ's lineout ended the threat.
While seeing Cam Smith thrive in another uniform was tough, the trade that sent him to Houston for Kyle Tucker was made from a position of strength. According to farm director Jason Kanzler, the Cubs' farm system remains one of the best in baseball, boasting seven Top 100 prospects even after the deal. Kanzler highlighted the organization's depth at Double-A and Triple-A, which provides a steady pipeline of talent. This depth isn't just for future call-ups; it makes the Cubs major players as the trade deadline approaches, giving them the assets to acquire whatever pieces they need for a deep postseason run.
Saturday's loss was a tough pill to swallow, especially with the storyline of Smith's revenge homer. But it's just one game in a long season. The offense showed its trademark fight, nearly completing a massive comeback, and the continued emergence of Matt Shaw is a huge plus. With an elite offense and a stocked farm system ready to provide reinforcements or trade chips, the Cubs remain firmly in control of their destiny. Time to shake this one off and get back in the win column tomorrow.
