Carlos Correa, Cristian Javier lead Astros to homecoming win

HOUSTON – The roar grew louder at Daikin Park with each step Carlos Correa took toward the plate in the first inning Monday night. The prodigal slugger had returned after almost four full seasons with the Minnesota Twins.

The home crowd’s reception wasn’t quite as boisterous for Cristian Javier, but the right-hander’s return was equally important for the Astros on a night they also welcomed Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman as a visitor.

With most of the crowd of 39,330 on their feet as Correa headed to the plate, several fans held signs that read: “Welcome Back Home, Correa.” Other fans held up signs that simply read: “Correa.”

“Correa being back, Bregman being back, Javier’s first start, it was fun,” Chas McCormick said after hitting a crucial two-run homer in the Astros’ 7-6 victory over the Red Sox. “I remember looking from the outfield just seeing how packed the stadium was on a Monday night, so it was really fun to be out there. It was a good W.”

Josh Hader shoulder discomfort sours night

Not all the news was good for the Astros, however. Josh Hader was unavailable because of shoulder discomfort that prompted the team to send him for tests. It wouldn’t be surprising if the All-Star closer landed on the injured list on Tuesday.

The story on the field, however, was about the returning stars, beginning with Correa. The roar of the crowd reached a crescendo after Correa took his batting helmet off and tipped it toward all sections of the ballpark.

A little more than a decade after making his big league debut with the Astros, the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year and 2017 World Series champion was excited to be back at Daikin Park after rejoining the club on the road after being acquired at the July 31 trade deadline.

Welcome home, Carlos Correa 👏

His first home game since being reacquired by the @Astros! pic.twitter.com/Yt8FylcnaT

— MLB (@MLB) August 12, 2025

“Let me tell you, I was a very happy man walking down the tunnel again,” Correa said. “I walked it for the past three years. Obviously I was on the visiting side. Coming here as part of the home team, it’s a special feeling.

“It takes me back to when I was 20 years old and took that walk and my dream had (been) accomplished of becoming a big league player. But now we have new goals, and we’re going to try to accomplish them.”

Christian Javier settles in

It was homecoming night at Daikin Park for the start of a crucial three-game series. Three of the Astros’ best players of the last decade – Correa, Cristian Javier and Bregman – returned. It was also Ramon Urias’ first home game as an Astros. The Mexican infielder celebrated with the two-run home run that proved to be the difference. 

Bregman, who help the Astros win two World Series titles before leaving via free agency last winter, received a loud ovation during a pregame video tribute and then before his first at-bat as an opponent. After watching Bregman give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the first inning, though, many in the crowd booed Bregman before his second and third at-bats.

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Fortunately for the Astros, Javier didn’t give up another run in his return from Tommy John surgery. 

Javier, who had gone 447 days between big league starts, held the Red Sox to three hits and two runs with two walks and five strikeouts over five innings.

He had been on the injured list since May 24, 2024. Javier had thrown 14 innings over five rehab starts between the FCL Astros, Class AA Corpus Christi and Class AAA Sugar Land leading up to his return.

Javier showcased a new sinker he added to his arsenal. He also hit 95-mph on his fastball, which sat around 92-mph last season before he underwent surgery on his right elbow’s ulna collateral ligament.

“It’s inexplicable,” Javier said of the emotion he felt on the way to the ballpark. “It was a long road, a very difficult road. But I had maintained close to God and with my family always giving me support. I kept going forward, and thank God I’m here.”

‘Coming Home’

Correa and the Astros jumped on Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet in the third. Cam Smith hit a one-out double to left. Jeremy Peña followed with a single to left. 

After walking out to Skylar Grey’s “Coming Home,” Correa hit an RBI single through the right side. One out later, Christian Walker hit a two-run home run to left to give the Astros a 3-2 lead. 

McCormick added his two-run homer off Crochet, a favorite for the American League Cy Young Award. Urias added his two-run homer in the fifth. The Red Sox countered with a four-run rally in the seventh, but the Astros’ bullpen patched together the final two scoreless innings.

“It was nice,” Espada said of the warm receptions for Bregman, Correa and Javier. “And then Breggy hits the homer and he got booed the rest of the night. Right? But it was nice. All well deserving. Great players. They’ve done a lot for this organization. They deserve to be received that way.”