Astros crushed by A's 15-3 on July 26, 2025, as rookie Nick Kurtz hits a historic 4 HRs. Ryan Gusto struggles in a nightmare loss for Houston.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Some days, you just don't have it. And then there are days like Saturday, July 26, 2025. The Houston Astros didn't just lose to the Oakland Athletics; they were on the wrong side of history. In a stunning 15-3 demolition at Daikin Park, A's rookie Nick Kurtz etched his name into the MLB record books, leaving Astros fans and players alike in a state of shock.
A's rookie Nick Kurtz became the first MLB rookie ever to hit four home runs in a single game, driving in a staggering nine runs.
It was a game that will be replayed on highlight reels for all the wrong reasons. Nick Kurtz, a name Astros pitchers will be seeing in their sleep, single-handedly dismantled the team. His four-homer performance was a relentless assault, with each blast more demoralizing than the last. Starter Ryan Gusto bore the brunt of the early damage, getting tagged for seven runs in just 3.1 innings. The bullpen couldn't stop the bleeding, and the final 15-3 score felt both surreal and all too real. The only offensive spark for Houston came from a lonely two-run homer by Zack Short, a footnote in an otherwise forgettable box score.
The immediate fallout from the blowout was swift. Reliever Nick Hernandez, who struggled in the contest, was optioned back to Triple-A Sugar Land postgame. The move underscores the team's need for reliable arms, a need made more acute by other roster news. The team also placed left-hander Brandon Walter on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation. While Walter expressed optimism that an MRI showed no structural damage and his absence would be short, it's another blow to the pitching depth.
Just when the news cycle felt relentlessly negative, a beacon of hope emerged from the training facilities. Shortstop Jeremy Peña, out since late June with a rib fracture, is nearing his return after taking live batting practice in West Palm Beach. The steady glove and clutch bat of Peña have been sorely missed. Even better, slugger Yordan Alvarez (right hand fracture) is making significant strides, taking over 50 swings in the cage. And on the pitching front, Cristian Javier is inching closer. After a solid 2 2/3-inning rehab start in Sugar Land on Thursday, the right-hander is on track for an August return to the bullpen, a massive potential boost for the stretch run.
It's crucial to take a deep breath and look at the standings. Yes, a 15-3 loss to a division rival stings. But the Astros still sit atop the AL West with a 58-43 record and a comfortable five-game lead over the Mariners. This team can still hit, ranking second in the majors with a .259 team batting average. And despite Saturday's implosion, their pitching has been elite for most of the season, allowing the third-fewest runs per game in MLB (3.8). One historically bad game doesn't erase a season's worth of solid play.
Saturday was a gut punch, plain and simple. It was a reminder of how humbling baseball can be. But the story of the 2025 Astros won't be defined by one disastrous loss. The focus must now shift to flushing this game, getting healthy, and preparing for the final two months of the season. With Peña, Alvarez, and Javier on the mend, the reinforcements are coming. The lead is still there to protect. It's time to see how this championship-caliber team responds to a historic dose of adversity.
