Boston Red Sox at Houston Astros

HOUSTON -- Lance McCullers Jr. pitched seven innings for the first time since 2022 and Jose Altuve hit two of Houston's four home runs to help the Astros beat the Boston Red Sox 8-1 on Monday night. McCullers (1-0), who missed the 2023 and '24 seasons with injuries, allowed four hits and a run with nine strikeouts in his season debut. The home crowd gave the longtime Astro a nice ovation as he left the mound after his best start in years. Altuve, who tied a career high with four hits, had solo shots in the seventh and eighth innings for his 15th career multi-homer game. Yordan Alvarez had a two-run home run and Brice Matthews also homered as Houston won a third straight game after dropping its first two.