HOUSTON — For the first time since 2016, the Houston Astros took the field on Opening Day without franchise cornerstone Alex Bregman.
Despite not having Bregman, as well as fellow All-Star Kyle Tucker, the Astros opened up the 2025 season with a 3-1 victory over the New York Mets on Thursday afternoon inside Daikin Park.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After giving up a one-out single to Juan Soto, Houston’s Framber Valdez got himself in a little trouble as he walked Pete Alonso to put two Mets on the base paths. Valdez got out of the early jam by having Mark Vientos ground out and Brando Nimmo line out.
In the bottom of the second, Holmes would hit Jeremy Pena with one out. Rookie right fielder Cam Smith then laced a single into right field on the first pitch he saw, and Brendan Rodgers drew a walk to load the bases. Jake Myers would ground out, but Pena managed to cross home plate.
The Astros added to their lead in the bottom of the third.
Isaac Paredes led off with a walk and then advanced to second on a Christian Walker single to left field. Yainer Diaz hit a single up the middle, which scored Paredes. Pena came up and grounded into a force out, which scored Walker.
The Mets had an opportunity to plate a run in the top of the fifth.
Luis Torrens hit a hard ball into right field that Smith misjudged, which gave Torrens a one-out double. Valdez got Francisco Lindor to ground out, and then Diaz threw out Torrens at third to get out of the frame.
Bryan Abreu came into the 8th for Valdez. After getting a quick two outs, Abreu found himself in some trouble. He walked Soto and Alonso back-to-back and threw a wild pitch that let both runners advance to third and second base. Abreu then walked Vientos to load the bases. After a mound visit, the Astros got out of the jam as Nimmo flied out to Myers.
The Mets threatened in the top of the ninth as Starling Marte led off with a single off of Josh Hader. Tyrone Taylor would join him on the basepaths with a single to left field. Hader then walked Luisangel Acuna to load the bases with no outs.
Hader got Hayden Senger to strike out and then allowed a run to score on a sac fly by Lindor. That set up a showdown with Soto, and the Astros closer struck out the superstar slugger to end the game.
BIG NUMBER: 34
With Thursday’s victory over the New York Mets, the Houston Astros improved to 34-30 all-time on Opening Day. The win also had snapped a two-game losing streak on Opening Day for the Astros.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: FRAMBER VALDEZ
Houston’s ace didn’t have his best stuff, especially early on as he put four runners on the base paths in the first three innings. Valdez would begin to settle in and pitch seven shutout innings, giving up only four hits and striking out four.
UP NEXT: Houston (1-0) will return to action on Friday night when it takes on New York in the second game of the three-game series. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.