Kyle Tucker Homers for Second Straight Game to Lift Astros Past Marlins, 2-1.

Kyle Tucker continued his power surge Tuesday night, homering for the second consecutive game to help the Houston Astros edge past the Miami Marlins in a tightly contested 2-1 victory at Minute Maid Park.

Tucker, who has been one of the hottest hitters in the Astros’ lineup this month, delivered a solo shot to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning, breaking a 1-1 tie and giving Houston a lead they would not relinquish. The home run—Tucker’s 14th of the season—came off Marlins starter Edward Cabrera, who had kept the Astros in check for much of the evening.

“I was just looking for something over the plate I could drive,” Tucker said after the game. “He had been throwing a lot of changeups, so I tried to stay back, and luckily I got one I could lift.”

The decisive swing marked the second straight game in which Tucker had gone deep, further cementing his role as a central offensive force for Houston as they look to keep pace in the AL West.

Pitchers Duel Early On

The game began as a pitcher’s duel between Houston’s Framber Valdez and Miami’s Cabrera. Both left-handers showcased sharp command and efficient pitch counts, trading zeros through the first four innings.

Miami was the first to break through in the fifth when Jazz Chisholm Jr. lined a double into the right-center gap. Two batters later, Jesús Sánchez punched an RBI single past a diving Jose Altuve to put the Marlins on top, 1-0.

But Houston quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs and a runner on second, Yordan Alvarez delivered a clutch single up the middle to tie the game at one apiece. That set the stage for Tucker’s heroics the following inning.

“Big-time players show up in big moments,” said Astros manager Joe Espada. “Tuck’s been locked in lately, and he came through again when we needed him.”

Tucker’s Timely Production

Tucker’s solo blast was a no-doubt shot, traveling 412 feet and leaving the bat at 107 mph, according to Statcast. It marked his fourth home run in the last seven games and his 14th on the year—ranking him among the top five in the American League.

“He’s seeing the ball real well right now,” said teammate Alex Bregman. “When he gets into that groove, he’s dangerous. He can carry a team.”

With his home run Tuesday, Tucker extended his hitting streak to eight games, during which he’s batting .387 with four home runs and 11 RBIs. The surge comes at a key time for the Astros, who are battling injuries and inconsistencies in their lineup.

Bullpen Locks It Down

Following Tucker’s go-ahead homer, Houston turned things over to their bullpen, and they didn’t disappoint. Bryan Abreu tossed a scoreless seventh, Ryan Pressly handled the eighth, and closer Josh Hader notched his 12th save of the season with a clean ninth.

Valdez (4-2) earned the win, allowing just one run on five hits over six strong innings. He walked one and struck out seven, lowering his ERA to 2.98 on the season.

“Framber was vintage Framber tonight,” said Espada. “He stayed composed, kept the ball on the ground, and gave us a chance to win.”

Cabrera (2-4) was the hard-luck loser, giving up two runs on six hits across 6.2 innings. He struck out five and walked just one.

Defensive Highlights and Missed Opportunities

The low-scoring affair wasn’t without its tense moments. In the top of the eighth, the Marlins threatened with runners on first and second and one out. But Pressly induced a double-play ball from Josh Bell to escape the jam.

Houston also flashed the leather in the sixth when shortstop Jeremy Peña made a leaping catch on a line drive to rob Nick Gordon of a hit, helping preserve the tie game before Tucker’s homer.

The Marlins, who fell to 18-28 with the loss, left six runners on base and went just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

“It’s frustrating,” said Marlins manager Skip Schumaker. “We had chances, but couldn’t capitalize. In games like this, one swing can make all the difference.”

Looking Ahead

The Astros improved to 25-21 and remain within striking distance of the division-leading Seattle Mariners. They’ll look to build on the momentum Wednesday in the series finale against Miami, with right-hander Cristian Javier scheduled to take the mound.

Tucker, meanwhile, will look to stay hot as he continues to build an early All-Star résumé.

“It’s all about helping the team win,” Tucker said. “If I can do that every night—whether it’s a homer, a walk, or just good defense—that’s the goal.”

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