Cam Smith kept swinging well Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run, one walk and two runs scored in the Astros' 10-7 loss to the Rangers.
The rookie's homer gave Houston one of its bright spots in a game that slipped away late, but the bigger sign was the consistency. Smith has now collected hits in each of his last six games, a stretch that has helped steady an Astros lineup that has still been uneven around him.
Through 55 games, Smith is slashing.213 with five home runs, 18 RBI, 24 runs scored and seven steals. Those numbers show both the upside and the growing pains that have marked his season. Joe Espada continues to manage a lineup that needs more bats to follow Smith's lead if Houston is going to turn close losses like this one into wins.
For now, Smith is giving the Astros something they can count on: contact, power and enough activity on the bases to matter. The question is whether the rest of the order can catch up before a few more nights like Tuesday keep piling up in the standings.
