The Astros lost to the A's 3-1 on June 17, 2025, as Nick Kurtz hit another walk-off homer off Bryan Abreu. See how Houston's offense stalled again.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of frustrating déjà vu for the Houston Astros. For the second consecutive game, a solid pitching performance was undone in the final moments by a Nick Kurtz home run, as the Astros fell 3-1 to the Oakland Athletics. Despite an early lead and a strong start from Spencer Arrighetti, Houston's bats couldn't deliver in the clutch, leaving a bitter taste for a team trying to solidify its divisional lead.
The Astros went a combined 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, a statistic that tells the entire story of a wasted opportunity in Oakland.
The game started with a bang as Jose Altuve launched his 11th home run of the season in the first inning, giving Houston an immediate 1-0 lead. Starter Spencer Arrighetti made it stand up for most of the night, delivering a quality start with six sharp innings, allowing just two runs while striking out seven. But the offense couldn't build on the early momentum. The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the ninth, when reliever Bryan Abreu faced A's slugger Nick Kurtz. In a painful repeat of the previous contest, Kurtz sent a pitch over the wall for a walk-off homer, stunning the Astros. Despite scattered hits from Jake Meyers (2-for-4) and a double from Mauricio Dubón, the inability to get a key hit proved to be the team's undoing.
Adding insult to injury, the Astros' pitching depth took a hit before the game even started. The team announced that Lance McCullers Jr. was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right foot sprain suffered in a bizarre weight room accident. Manager Joe Espada expressed hope for a minimum stay, but it's another blow to a team that needs all hands on deck. Meanwhile, the offense is still waiting for its big bats to return. Yordan Alvarez continues his rehab for a fractured hand but has yet to begin swinging, and while Chas McCormick has started hitting and throwing progressions for his oblique strain, his return isn't expected until July. The team's recent offensive struggles highlight just how much their presence is missed.
Despite the gut-wrenching loss, it's important to keep perspective. As of Tuesday morning, the Astros still sit atop the AL West with a 41-30 record. Their lead provides a crucial buffer as they navigate this tough stretch of injuries and inconsistent play. Under first-year manager Joe Espada, the team has shown resilience all season. This loss stings, especially against a division rival, but they remain the team to beat in the West. The challenge now is to stop the bleeding and prove that this two-game skid is a blip, not a trend.
The Astros will need to have a short memory as they look to salvage the series against the A's. Finding timely hitting is now priority number one, especially as the pitching staff deals with the loss of McCullers. This stretch is a test of the team's depth and resolve. Can they bounce back and remind the division why they're in first place? Tomorrow's game will be a crucial first step.
