Christian Walker's 3-run home run leads Astros to 8-5 win over Cubs

CHICAGO (AP) — Christian Walker hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run fifth inning and the Houston Astros completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs with an 8-5 victory on Sunday.

Jake Meyers and Nick Allen added solo shots for Houston, which has won three straight and four of five.

Michael Busch homered for Chicago as its skid reached eight games, its longest since a nine-game slide during the 2022 season. The Cubs have lost 12 of 14, including six straight at Wrigley Field after winning 15 in a row there.

Jeremy Peña's two-run single in the fifth gave the Astros the lead for good and Walker followed him with a blast into the middle of the left-centerfield bleachers. Allen added a bloop RBI single in the ninth.

Peter Lambert (3-4) gave up five hits and three runs in the first five innings. He walked four and struck out five. He left the bases loaded in the second after striking out Michael Conforto. Reliever AJ Blubaugh surrendered Busch’s homer and Nate Pearson worked the ninth for his first save.

Shota Imanaga (4-5) dropped his third straight after giving up all seven runs and seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts.

Cubs rookie infielder Pedro Ramirez made his first career start at second base a day after joining the club and doubled for his first career hit and RBI in the second. Pete Crow-Armstrong followed with a sacrifice fly and Nico Hoerner added an RBI single to give Chicago an early 3-1 lead.

Houston outfielder Yordan Alvarez, who left Saturday’s game with back spasms, wasn’t in the lineup but manager Joe Espada said the outfielder wasn’t feeling any lingering effects.

Astros: RHP Tatsuya Imai (1-2, 8.31 ERA) opens a series at Texas on Monday night.

Cubs haven’t named a starter for Monday afternoon’s game at Pittsburgh. RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (4-3, 3.96) is scheduled to start for the Pirates.

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Chicago Cubs' Pedro Ramirez, right, watches his RBI double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Chicago, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Houston Astros starter Peter Lambert delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Chicago, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Houston Astros' Christian Walker (8) watches his three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on Sunday used his State of the Union address to tout his government’s U.S.-backed crime-fighting strategies as well as improvements of some economic indicators.

Addressing the National Assembly in the capital, Quito, Noboa cited the extradition of a dozen crime bosses to the United States and the seizure of almost 300 tons of drugs as examples of what he described as a decisive and effective approach to combat organized crime, the main concern of Ecuadorians throughout this decade.

“We will seek them out, find them and extradite them,” Noboa said of wanted criminals after he asserted that the South American country cannot develop “if families live in fear” due to organized crime.

Ecuador has struggled to contain drug violence since 2021 as rival cartels partner with local gangs and battle for control of routes and coastal ports used to smuggle cocaine. The country is wedged between Colombia and Peru, the world’s top cocaine producing countries.

Last year, Ecuador recorded its highest homicide rate in decades of 50 murders per every 100,000 residents, according to the Ministry of the Interior.

In response, Noboa, who was reelected last year to a 4-year term, has used a state of exception to allow the military to implement a variety of crime-fighting strategies, including joint patrols with police officers and property searches without warrants. Earlier this year, Ecuador’s military also carried out a joint operation with U.S. forces against a training camp allegedly used by Colombian drug traffickers, attacking the site with drones, helicopters and boats.

Noboa has come under criticism from civil society groups, who say his iron fisted methods have failed to reduce crime, while putting civilians in danger.

Glaedys González, an analyst for the Andean region at the International Crisis Group, on Sunday said Noboa may have been optimistic in his speech regarding the country’s security, but “progress on violence is far from being achieved.”

“It is evident that the situation in Ecuador has reached unprecedented levels,” González said.

Noboa on Sunday also promoted economic progress, telling lawmakers that poverty dropped from 26% to 21.4% in 2025 while extreme poverty went down from 10.4% to 8.4%.

Noboa was first elected in 2023 during a snap election triggered when then-President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly and shortened his own term.

President Daniel Noboa delivers his State of the Nation address at the National Assembly.in Quito, Ecuador, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

President Daniel Noboa and his family leave the National Assembly after delivering his State of the Nation address at the National Assembly in Quito, Ecuador, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

President Daniel Noboa delivers his State of the Nation address at the National Assembly.in Quito, Ecuador, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

President Daniel Noboa and his family leave the National Assembly after delivering his State of the Nation address at the National Assembly in Quito, Ecuador, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

President Daniel Noboa leaves the National Assembly after delivering his State of the Nation address at the National Assembly in Quito, Ecuador, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa speaks at the Organization of American States meeting, Thursday, May 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)