The Astros' win streak ends in a 5-2 loss to the Athletics on July 24, 2025. Jason Alexander struggled, but a strong rehab start from Jacob Melton offers hope.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Well, you can't win them all. The Astros' tidy four-game winning streak came to a screeching halt Thursday night in a 5-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics. It was a classic case of missed opportunities and a spot starter getting hit hard. But before anyone hits the panic button, take a deep breath and look at the bigger picture: help is on the way, and it's coming fast.
The story of the night was written in the box score: Houston went a frustrating 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
The loss stings, especially at home against a division rival. Jason Alexander, called up just for this start against his former club, had a tough outing, surrendering five earned runs on 11 hits. While he battled for six innings, the A's, led by a Luis Urias home run, did their damage. Meanwhile, the Astros' bats couldn't solve Luis Severino, who fanned eight over seven strong innings. The only Houston runs came late on a Christian Walker sac fly and a Cam Smith groundout, long after the game felt out of reach. Despite the loss, the Astros still hold a 60-43 record and a firm grip on the AL West lead.
The best news of the day didn't happen at Minute Maid Park. Down in Sugar Land, outfielder Jacob Melton began his rehab assignment with a bang, going 2-for-4 with a scorching 111.7 mph double, an RBI, and two runs scored. His return from an ankle sprain, expected by the end of July, will be a massive boost to the lineup. On the mound, Cristian Javier took another huge step in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. He tossed 2 2/3 innings for the Space Cowboys, and while the stat line isn't the focus, the workload is. He's on track for an August return to the big-league rotation. Not to be forgotten, Spencer Arrighetti is also set for his second rehab start in Corpus Christi, adding another valuable arm to the list of impending returns.
One loss doesn't define a season, and the Astros have an immediate chance to bounce back. Rookie right-hander Ryan Gusto (6-3, 4.46 ERA) gets the ball on Friday night. Gusto has been a solid contributor to this rotation and will look to get the team back in the win column. He'll face off against A's lefty Jeffery Springs in what should be another competitive divisional matchup.
So while Thursday's loss was a bump in the road, the Astros remain in the driver's seat. The focus now shifts to taking the series from Oakland and, more importantly, getting healthy for the stretch run. With Melton's bat and Javier's arm nearing a return, this team is about to get a whole lot deeper and a whole lot more dangerous. Let's see how they respond Friday night.
