Houston Astros outfielder Cam Smith provided the key hit twice in an exciting game against the San Francisco Giants that lasted 10 innings on Monday and featured a 6-3 Astros victory.
Smith and Houston entered the seventh inning in a 2-1 hole before Smith provided the game-tying blast. The solo home run went 402 feet and would have cleared the wall in all 30 major league ballparks.
It was also a line drive, a type of contact becoming commonplace for Smith in August. The Giants retook the lead, though, and maintained a 3-2 edge with two outs in the ninth.
With the Giants one strike away from winning and the tying run on second, Smith found a hole in the right side as the grounder bounded off second baseman Osleivis Basabe and into right field far enough away for Nick Allen to score from second. This key hit propelled the Astros to their victory, coming with more clutch hits from other players in the 10th frame. Â
Can Smith: Baseball’s Hottest August Bat
Aug 7, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith (11) . Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Smith has been one of baseball’s best hitters since the month began. Since the start of August, Smith has posted a 1.150 OPS with a .412 average, both tops in the big leagues. His weighted on-base average ranks first among qualified hitters in the month of August. His wOBA comes out to .536, with the next-highest mark being Jac Caglianone’s tally of .531. The Florida native has slugged three homers in his 10 games played during the month.
Smith is the beneficiary of some good luck too, with a .4578 batting average on balls in play, easily the highest in baseball among qualified hitters for the month. The second-year player has proved his spot in the starting lineup with this successful month.
Overcoming July Slump
Coming into August, Smith was struggling.
He posted a .504 OPS in July with just two home runs. His batting average on balls in play limped way behind at .154.
It was assumed early in the season that Cam would improve, though it took until August to really show it. He is top five in baseball in the difference between expected slugging percentage and actual slugging percentage, proving he was a victim of tough luck on batted balls. He was hitting the ball hard and did not have the numbers to show for it.
Aug 3, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; /Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith (11) Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Smith is a critical piece to the Astros division title hopes. If he continues his torrid August pace, it will be hard to keep the Astros out of the playoffs.
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