<\/p>\n
Astros right fielder Cam Smith robs the Rangers’ Brandon Nimmo of a first-inning home run during Houston’s 5-1 win Thursday night in Arlington.<\/p>\n
Ron Jenkins\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Houston Astros’ Isaac Paredes celebrates a home run with Houston Astros’ third base coach Tony Perezchica during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, May 28, 2026, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias)<\/p>\n
Jessica Tobias\/AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias<\/p>\n
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – MAY 28: Evan Carter #32 of the Texas Rangers slides safely into third base before Spencer Arrighetti #41 of the Houston Astros applies the tag during the fourth inning at Globe Life Field on May 28, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Ron Jenkins\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – MAY 28: Cam Smith #11 of the Houston Astros goes up to catch a deep fly ball off the bat of Brandon Nimmo #24 of the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field on May 28, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Ron Jenkins\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – MAY 28: Spencer Arrighetti #41 of the Houston Astros pitches against the Texas Rangers during the second inning at Globe Life Field on May 28, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Ron Jenkins\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Houston Astros’ Bryan Abreu pitches during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, May 28, 2026, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias)<\/p>\n
Jessica Tobias\/AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias<\/p>\n
Houston Astros’ Bryan Abreu pauses before pitching during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, May 28, 2026, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias)<\/p>\n
Jessica Tobias\/AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias<\/p>\n
Houston Astros’ Isaac Paredes catches a ball at first base during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, May 28, 2026, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias)<\/p>\n
Jessica Tobias\/AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias<\/p>\n
Houston Astros’ right fielder Cam Smith reaches for a ball hit by Texas Rangers’ Brandon Nimmo during first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 28, 2026, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias)<\/p>\n
Jessica Tobias\/AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias<\/p>\n
Texas Rangers’ Ezequiel Duran steals second base during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Thursday, May 28, 2026, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias)<\/p>\n
Jessica Tobias\/AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias<\/p>\n
Houston Astros’ Spencer Arrighetti pitches during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, May 28, 2026, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias)<\/p>\n
Jessica Tobias\/AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias<\/p>\n
Houston Astros’ Nate Pearson pitches during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, May 28, 2026, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias)<\/p>\n
Jessica Tobias\/AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias<\/p>\n
Houston Astros’ right fielder Cam Smith catches a ball hit by Texas Rangers’ Brandon Nimmo during first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 28, 2026, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias)<\/p>\n
Jessica Tobias\/AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias<\/p>\n
Houston Astros’ right fielder Cam Smith celebrates with center fielder Taylor Trammell (26) during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, May 28, 2026, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias)<\/p>\n
Jessica Tobias\/AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias<\/p>\n
Houston Astros’ right fielder Cam Smith celebrates during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, May 28, 2026, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias)<\/p>\n
Jessica Tobias\/AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias<\/p>\n
Houston Astros’ Spencer Arrighetti pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, May 28, 2026, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias)<\/p>\n
Jessica Tobias\/AP Photo\/Jessica Tobias<\/p>\n
ARLINGTON\u00a0\u2014 Brandon Nimmo attacked a fastball from Spencer Arrighetti and arced it to right field. Off the bat, Arrighetti said, he anticipated nothing special.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt didn\u2019t sound like he really got it,\u201d Arrighetti said. \u201cAnd then it just kept going.\u201d<\/p>\n
The baseball left Nimmo\u2019s bat at 94.1 mph but carried through the air at Globe Life Field as Cam Smith gave pursuit. With a glance at the wall as he neared the warning track, the Houston Astros<\/a>‘ right fielder gathered his feet and leapt, glove outstretched.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cCam jumped and I was like, \u2018Oh great, just gave up a homer,\u2019\u201d Arrighetti said. \u201cAnd then he came back down, didn\u2019t really do much.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith landed and looked at his glove. Back still turned to the infield, he flipped the ball inside it into his right hand. He began to jog toward the infield, holding it at about chest-height, head down.<\/p>\n \u201cHe tried to act cool, no emotion, like he does it all the time,\u201d shortstop Jeremy Pe\u00f1a said, deadpanning. \u201cI was like, bro, celebrate a little bit, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Said Smith, the second-year right fielder who moved from third base last spring: \u201cHonestly, I didn\u2019t even know how to react. I\u2019ve never done that before. But it was pretty cool. I\u2019m glad I could do it for Spence.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Eleven days earlier, after taking a no-hit bid to the eighth inning<\/a> against the Texas Rangers at Daikin Park, Arrighetti had joked: \u201cI\u2019m sure there\u2019s too many pictures of me going like this (looking shocked) because my outfielder made a catch that I didn\u2019t think they could possibly make.\u201d<\/p>\n Thursday night delivered another. Arrighetti stood near the mound staring toward Smith, both hands on his head and mouth slightly agape, as the right fielder jogged in, his robbery finishing the first inning and guarding a three-run lead the Astros never yielded in a 5-1 win over the Rangers<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe score three, we want to keep the momentum on our side,\u201d Houston manager Joe Espada said. \u201cThat ball leaves the yard, they get a run back. But Cam makes that play.\u201d<\/p>\n Keeping momentum is the Astros\u2019 current mandate. A third of the season elapsed with a depleted club displaying little ability to sustain any. Sweeping a series at Wrigley Field last weekend<\/a> presented its first legitimate spark since perhaps the first homestand of the season.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Houston followed up by taking three of four games from its intrastate rival at Globe Life Field, capturing consecutive series for the first time all season and playing more of the complementary baseball that for most of two months seemed so elusive.<\/p>\n The Astros are still 26-32. That is as close as they have been to the .500 mark since April 23, however, and as of Thursday night put them 2 \u00bd games out of first place in the American League West, as they returned to Houston having concluded a 7-3 road trip.<\/p>\n \u201cThis a good catapult for us to keep moving forward,\u201d Smith said. \u201cIt\u2019s been fun to be a part of. And you\u2019ve seen the character of this team. Even with guys down, you\u2019ve seen the character of us continuing to battle.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith may personify that description. His first half has been a struggle. After posting a .941 OPS over his first 15 games this season, Smith compiled a .434 OPS over his next 34 games. He has continued to see regular playing time in right field but was absent from the lineup three times over a seven-game span in mid-May, a hint that could be tenuous.<\/p>\n BATTERS Team Totals Trammell Alvarez Allen Correa Loperfido Shewmake Pe\u00f1a Walker V\u00e1zquez Altuve Paredes Diaz Harris Smith Matthews Dezenzo Meyers Cole Johnson Whitcomb Salazar ___<\/p>\n PITCHERS Team Totals Pearson Santa VanWey Brown Arrighetti Teng King De Los Santos Okert Lambert Blubaugh Roa Burrows Bolton Imai Abreu McCullers Murray Weiss France Sousa Salazar Alexander Gordon Javier Mu\u00f1oz As it did for the Astros, the road trip held potentially encouraging signs for Smith. He went 10-for-33 over 10 games, collecting a hit in all but one of his starts. The numbers are modest but notable for a player whose hold on a roster spot may be shakier if not for attrition and his elite defense. Smith is 23 but still a regular in a lineup seeking sources of production.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cHe needs to continue to grind through this,\u201d Espada said Tuesday night. \u201cThe length of the season can wear you down. But this young man continues to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith homered Tuesday for the first time since April 30, a soaring 457-foot blast that offered a reminder of his tantalizing ability. He went hitless in four at-bats Wednesday. With both Christian Walker and Jake Meyers off<\/a> in Thursday\u2019s series finale, Smith slotted fifth in the Astros\u2019 lineup and struck two hits, an RBI single off Nathan Eovaldi in the third inning and an infield single in the ninth.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel good,\u201d Smith said. \u201cAs long as I\u2019m in there and getting opportunities, there\u2019s really nothing I can complain about. More opportunities to help these guys win.\u201d<\/p>\n He drove in Houston\u2019s fifth run against Eovaldi\u00a0\u2014 Pe\u00f1a and Isaac Paredes homered in the first inning\u00a0\u2014 but Smith\u2019s catch in the first was arguably his most impactful moment, saving a run on a night Arrighetti admitted he felt under the weather and \u201cdidn\u2019t have it.\u201d Arrighetti still allowed only a Josh Jung home run in six innings before four relievers combined to work the final three scoreless.<\/p>\n Astros pitchers own a 3.80 ERA this month after compiling a 6.08 ERA through the end of April. Arrighetti threw their 10th\u00a0quality start this month; they had six before it. Their offense has still scored the seventh-fewest runs in the majors in May but has mustered five or more in four of five games after doing so twice in a 21-game span to begin the month.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cFeel like we\u2019re clicking on all cylinders,\u201d Pe\u00f1a said, \u201cand we\u2019ve just got to keep bringing that to this homestand.\u201d<\/p>\n Pe\u00f1a, whose return from the IL<\/a> along with Meyers last week<\/a> bolsters the Astros\u2019 defense, turned a neat double play in the fifth inning Thursday, bare-handing a flip from second baseman Brice Matthews. The shortstop deemed Smith\u2019s first-inning catch \u201camazing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCam Smith is such a great athlete,\u201d Pe\u00f1a said. \u201cSecond-best athlete on the team\u00a0\u2014 I don\u2019t have to say who\u2019s first. But great catch.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nOBA
\nAB
\nR
\nH
\n2B
\n3B
\nHR
\nRBI
\nBB
\nSO
\nSB
\nCS
\nE<\/p>\n
\n.245
\n.320
\n1948
\n258
\n478
\n90
\n3
\n76
\n247
\n193
\n463
\n20
\n10
\n21<\/p>\n
\n.359
\n.419
\n39
\n6
\n14
\n3
\n1
\n0
\n5
\n4
\n13
\n1
\n0
\n1<\/p>\n
\n.307
\n.419
\n205
\n37
\n63
\n11
\n0
\n20
\n39
\n37
\n42
\n1
\n0
\n1<\/p>\n
\n.295
\n.354
\n44
\n10
\n13
\n1
\n0
\n1
\n4
\n3
\n9
\n1
\n0
\n0<\/p>\n
\n.279
\n.369
\n122
\n22
\n34
\n8
\n0
\n3
\n16
\n18
\n26
\n1
\n0
\n1<\/p>\n
\n.276
\n.348
\n58
\n7
\n16
\n5
\n0
\n0
\n7
\n6
\n19
\n1
\n1
\n1<\/p>\n
\n.257
\n.264
\n70
\n7
\n18
\n3
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\n3
\n8
\n1
\n12
\n0
\n0
\n1<\/p>\n
\n.256
\n.311
\n82
\n12
\n21
\n4
\n0
\n2
\n6
\n4
\n13
\n2
\n0
\n2<\/p>\n
\n.255
\n.330
\n208
\n33
\n53
\n10
\n0
\n15
\n40
\n21
\n45
\n0
\n0
\n0<\/p>\n
\n.250
\n.308
\n108
\n10
\n27
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\n19
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\n.245
\n.326
\n163
\n27
\n40
\n10
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\n4
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\n19
\n35
\n1
\n2
\n2<\/p>\n
\n.241
\n.333
\n187
\n21
\n45
\n8
\n0
\n6
\n22
\n19
\n33
\n0
\n0
\n2<\/p>\n
\n.238
\n.255
\n101
\n7
\n24
\n5
\n0
\n2
\n14
\n3
\n16
\n0
\n1
\n0<\/p>\n
\n.226
\n.286
\n31
\n4
\n7
\n0
\n1
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\n4
\n2
\n6
\n2
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\n.215
\n.305
\n186
\n24
\n40
\n7
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\n21
\n58
\n7
\n1
\n4<\/p>\n
\n.206
\n.261
\n141
\n14
\n29
\n4
\n1
\n4
\n14
\n11
\n49
\n2
\n3
\n1<\/p>\n
\n.205
\n.271
\n44
\n5
\n9
\n4
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\n1
\n2
\n4
\n17
\n0
\n0
\n0<\/p>\n
\n.197
\n.265
\n61
\n7
\n12
\n2
\n0
\n2
\n5
\n5
\n15
\n1
\n2
\n0<\/p>\n
\n.157
\n.189
\n51
\n3
\n8
\n1
\n0
\n3
\n8
\n1
\n21
\n0
\n0
\n1<\/p>\n
\n.143
\n.294
\n14
\n1
\n2
\n0
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\n0
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\n0
\n0<\/p>\n
\n.118
\n.167
\n17
\n1
\n2
\n0
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\n1
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\n.063
\n.211
\n16
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\n1
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\n0<\/p>\n
\nW
\nL
\nERA
\nG
\nGS
\nSV
\nIP
\nH
\nR
\nER
\nHR
\nBB
\nSO<\/p>\n
\n26
\n32
\n5.05
\n58
\n58
\n15
\n508.1
\n466
\n295
\n285
\n74
\n276
\n477<\/p>\n
\n0
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\n3
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\n2.2
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\n0
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\n1
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\n2
\n0
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\n0
\n0
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\n2
\n0
\n0
\n2
\n1
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n3<\/p>\n
\n1
\n0
\n0.84
\n2
\n2
\n0
\n10.2
\n5
\n1
\n1
\n0
\n6
\n17<\/p>\n
\n7
\n1
\n1.34
\n8
\n8
\n0
\n47
\n27
\n9
\n7
\n2
\n26
\n43<\/p>\n
\n3
\n3
\n2.19
\n17
\n4
\n0
\n37
\n24
\n9
\n9
\n3
\n15
\n36<\/p>\n
\n0
\n1
\n3.04
\n21
\n0
\n6
\n23.2
\n22
\n10
\n8
\n1
\n10
\n19<\/p>\n
\n0
\n1
\n3.47
\n22
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\n4
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\n19
\n10
\n9
\n1
\n5
\n22<\/p>\n
\n0
\n0
\n3.75
\n27
\n1
\n0
\n24
\n17
\n10
\n10
\n3
\n8
\n21<\/p>\n
\n3
\n4
\n3.79
\n7
\n7
\n0
\n40.1
\n29
\n17
\n17
\n2
\n18
\n40<\/p>\n
\n2
\n2
\n4.81
\n22
\n0
\n0
\n33.2
\n26
\n18
\n18
\n5
\n21
\n24<\/p>\n
\n0
\n1
\n5.19
\n7
\n0
\n0
\n8.2
\n10
\n5
\n5
\n1
\n7
\n6<\/p>\n
\n3
\n6
\n5.40
\n11
\n11
\n0
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\n71
\n38
\n38
\n13
\n21
\n54<\/p>\n
\n0
\n1
\n5.40
\n8
\n3
\n1
\n20
\n21
\n12
\n12
\n3
\n14
\n22<\/p>\n
\n2
\n2
\n6.17
\n6
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\n17
\n16
\n16
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\n18
\n23<\/p>\n
\n2
\n2
\n6.50
\n20
\n0
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\n15
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\n20
\n23<\/p>\n
\n2
\n3
\n6.86
\n8
\n8
\n0
\n39.1
\n38
\n32
\n30
\n7
\n22
\n43<\/p>\n
\n0
\n0
\n7.15
\n7
\n0
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\n16
\n9
\n9
\n0
\n7
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\n0
\n3
\n7.62
\n9
\n2
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\n26
\n35
\n24
\n22
\n8
\n20
\n30<\/p>\n
\n0
\n0
\n8.10
\n3
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\n6.2
\n6
\n6
\n6
\n1
\n5
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\n0
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\n8.10
\n5
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\n3
\n3
\n3
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\n0
\n0
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\n1
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\n1
\n1
\n1
\n1
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\n1
\n1
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\n4
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\n0
\n18.1
\n21
\n19
\n19
\n4
\n8
\n14<\/p>\n
\n0
\n0
\n11.57
\n4
\n1
\n0
\n9.1
\n21
\n12
\n12
\n6
\n3
\n11<\/p>\n
\n0
\n1
\n12.54
\n3
\n3
\n0
\n9.1
\n13
\n13
\n13
\n2
\n9
\n4<\/p>\n
\n0
\n0
\n15.75
\n3
\n0
\n0
\n4
\n7
\n7
\n7
\n3
\n6
\n6<\/p>\n