The Astros' line continues to break out, and Alvarez's return to the team is about to upgrade its combat power

Houston Astros rookie Cam Smith is making good on trade expectations, Jose Altuve's batting is heating up, and Christian Walker is coming back from an early-season slump. And the countdown to heavy striker Yordan Alvarez's recovery from a hand injury is underway – the striker is expected to return at the end of the month, when the Astros' line will show more terrifying depth.

On Tuesday night at Daikin Park, Outowe made a four-game run with a double-hit, with Walker and Jeremy Peña teaming up to open up, complemented by ace Hunter Brown's high-quality starters in six 8K innings to help the Astros sweep the Athletics 11-1 to win three in a row. Houston hit 13 hits (a season-high eight long bats) for the fifth consecutive game with at least 11 hits since April 19-23, 2019 (Altuvi + Alvarez + Carlos Correa + Michael Brantley + Alex Bregman + George Springer+). Young Kyle Tucker [Kyle Tucker] golden line-up period) for the first time.

"The line is on fire, the long-play ability is fully unleashed," said coach Joe Espada, "and every seat is executed and everyone is contributing. Brown's pitching performance was equally dazzling. The Astros topped the league with a batting average of 0.280 in May, hitting 10 hits against Athletic left-handed JP Sears and hitting 10 hits in 20 hits on a right-handed lineup. Peña's two-inning two-point shot went on a four-point offensive, Outuway hit back-to-back shots in thirds and fourths, and Walker hit a two-point home run in six innings — continuing Sunday's goodbye to the Mariners.

"Everyone hit the ball well today," said Outuway, who has a 0.571 batting average (21-on-12) batting average in the last five games. Rookie Smith hit a 413-foot deep fly shot in the second inning and was clayed, but immediately hit a two-point second base hit in the third inning, and his batting average rose to 0.317 (63 hits and 20 bats) in May. "It's incomprehensible that the ball didn't go out of the wall," Espada commented, "but he's quickly adjusted to hitting long shots and is getting used to the big league game." Peña also praised: "He's horrible in batting and it's bad luck to hit a 108mph shot, but he immediately proved that he was in a state of mind." "

Benefiting from firepower, Brown (7-3) hit six games and six hits and eight strikeouts to close a tie-leading seventh win and reduce his ERA to 2.00 (67.2 games this season). "It's a real challenge to stay in shape when the opponent is asking for a timeout," Brown admits, "but the firepower from my teammates allows me to keep the offense going." His nine quality starts this season have been key to the team's climb.

As Alvarez's return date approaches, the team, which has scored 61 points in the last five games, is about to usher in full strength. As Espada put it: "We used the gaps in midfield effectively and were patient with Sears' high balls, and that discipline was the cornerstone of the victory. In the middle of Houston's summer heatwave, the Astros' champion genes are quietly awakening.