Courtesy: MLB
The Houston Astros wasted no time setting the tone for the season, taking two out of three games from the New York Mets in a three-game Opening Weekend series. They showcased a strong defense and solid performances from both grizzled veterans and new rookies.
Thursday: Astros Take Opening Day Win.
The Astros started the season with a 3-1 victory on Thursday night. Pitcher Framber Valdez opened the game drawing early pressure from the Mets’ batters, but the Astros held firm. José Altuve snared a sharp liner to thwart a possible Mets rally. At the plate, Jeremy Peña was beaned on the wrist but reached first base, allowing the Astros to gain momentum. Making his major-league debut, Cam Smith wasted little time making an impact with his first career hit, which advanced Peña to third. Fellow infielder Jake Myers later drove home the Astros’ first season run with a fielder’s choice ground ball.
The Mets did score one run in the final inning but fell short of overcoming the Astros’ early advantage. Houston scored two more runs in the third inning, making the score 3-0.
Friday: Mets Bounce Back
In a turn of events, the Mets scored a 3-1 win on Friday. The evening was punctuated by Juan Soto’s first home run as a Met—a mighty blow that also represented New York’s third and final run of the game. The only score from Houston was Yordan Alvarez’s sacrifice fly to center field that led to Altuve scoring. A couple of offense flashes aside, the Astros did not string enough together to make a dent, allowing the Mets to even the series.
Saturday: Astros Win Series
Both teams exchanged blows in the middle innings. Houston took the lead with a run in the fifth inning, only for the Mets to respond quickly in the sixth. But the Astros answered again in the same inning, regaining the lead. From there, it was all pitching and defense both ways, and the 2-1 score held up to the final out.
For their 2025 campaign, the Astros won the series 2-1.