HOUSTON \u2014 A few golden \u201cKing Tuck\u201d crowns still dotted the right-field stands, where Kyle Tucker<\/b> drove a three-run home run during the Cubs\u2019 12-3 victory Saturday against the Astros.<\/p>\n
A fan in the first row fumbled the catch, and the ball bounced over the side railing, depriving him of a souvenir from Tucker\u2019s first series back in Houston since being traded to the Cubs.<\/p>\n
After Tucker received a warm welcome Friday, his fourth-inning homer inspired a standing ovation from the Cubs fans in the crowd and a smattering of boos from some Astros fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a good thing,\u201d said Tucker, who also hit two singles and a double in his second four-hit game of the season. \u201cThat means we\u2019re doing our job over here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cubs authored a seven-run fourth inning to take control of the game. The rout evened the series at a game apiece.<\/p>\n
Left-handed hitter Michael Busch<\/b>, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI, started the rally with a one-out opposite-field solo homer.<\/p>\n
Nico Hoerner <\/b>followed with his own long ball into the left-field stands. It was Hoerner\u2019s third homer of the season, all of which have come in the last five games.<\/p>\n
The Cubs took a brief break from hitting the ball over the fence, as Matt Shaw<\/b> drew a walk and Reese McGuire <\/b>and Ian Happ<\/b> hit back-to-back singles to drive in a run. Then came Tucker\u2019s blast.<\/p>\n
To add the finishing touches, Seiya Suzuki<\/b> tripled, and the Astros pulled starting pitcher Lance McCullers<\/b>. Then Pete Crow-Armstrong<\/b> drove in Suzuki with a sacrifice fly off left-handed reliever Steven Okert<\/b>.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust really consistent at-bats all day long,\u201d Hoerner said. \u201cAnd nice to keep adding on, adding on, adding on, save our bullpen and be in a good spot heading in tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Cubs right-hander Colin Rea<\/b> bounced back from his worst start of the year last week against the Mariners to hold the Astros to two runs in five innings.<\/p>\n
Both scored on Cam Smith\u2019s<\/b> home run in the third. Smith won a 10-pitch battle, launching a slider over the left-field wall.<\/p>\n
Smith, whom the Cubs drafted in the first round last year and traded to the Astros in the package for Tucker, has homered in back-to-back games.<\/p>\n
Rea finished his outing by retiring seven straight batters after Smith.<\/p>\n
Johnny Cash\u2019s<\/b> \u2018\u2018God\u2019s Gonna Cut You Down,\u2019\u2019 former Astros closer Ryan Pressly\u2019s walk-in music, played over the sound system as Pressly ran in from the visitor\u2019s bullpen.<\/p>\n
Astros fans applauded as he took the Daikin Park mound for the first time since the Astros traded him to the Cubs in the offseason.<\/p>\n
Pressly retired the side in order in the ninth inning, striking out Victor Caratini<\/b> looking for the final out.<\/p>\nSuzuki pulls ahead<\/h3>\n
After weeks of pursuing Crow-Armstrong in the team home-run race, Suzuki pulled ahead with his 22nd homer of the season. In the eighth inning, Suzuki cranked a two-run homer off the stadium wall above the left-field seats. The blast also gave Suzuki a career high, barely past the halfway point.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tucker went 4-for-5 with a three-run homer, two singles and a double Saturday night against his former team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":64794,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-64793","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n