Astros say McCullers, family threatened amid loss

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said Lance McCullers Jr. and his household were the subjects of decease threats made connected societal media aft the seasoned right-hander was chased aft allowing 7 runs arsenic portion of a 10-run archetypal inning for the Cincinnati Reds connected Saturday night.

A squad spokesperson said the Astros notified some the Houston Police Department and Major League Baseball information astir the threats.

"I recognize radical are precise passionate and radical emotion the Astros and emotion sports, but threatening to find my kids and execution them is simply a small spot pugnacious to woody with," McCullers told reporters successful Houston.

"There person been galore threats implicit the years aimed astatine maine mostly ... But I deliberation bringing kids into the equation, threatening to find them ... it's tough."

McCullers (0-1) was making conscionable his 2nd commencement since Game 3 of the 2022 World Series aft battling a bid of close limb issues.

He struggled with his bid from the commencement Saturday. He walked leadoff hitter TJ Friedl earlier plunking Matt McLain connected the backside. Elly De La Cruz past smacked an opposite-field, three-run homer to near to marque it 3-0.

McCullers walked 2 much batters with 1 retired earlier Tyler Stephenson deed an RBI single. Will Benson followed with an RBI treble to marque it 5-0 and pursuit McCullers.

He was replaced by Logan VanWey but the Reds kept piling on, sending 15 batters to the sheet earlier Santiago Espinal yet struck retired to extremity the inning.

It was Cincinnati's astir runs successful a archetypal inning since August 1989, erstwhile they scored 14, besides against the Astros.

The Reds went connected to triumph Saturday's game, 13-9, arsenic Houston mislaid for the 4th clip successful the past six games.

Information from The Associated Press was utilized successful this report.