Astros fall to Nationals 2-1 on July 30 despite Jose Altuve's homer and a quality start from Hayden Wesneski. Read how the offense stalled in the finale.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a frustrating end to an otherwise successful series. The Houston Astros' offense went quiet at Daikin Park on Wednesday, mustering just one run on five hits in a 2-1 loss to the Washington Nationals. The defeat wasted a quality start from Hayden Wesneski and snapped a three-game winning streak, serving as a stark reminder that even with elite pitching, the bats need to show up.
Josh Hader extended his scoreless innings streak to a dominant 12.2 frames with a clean 9th inning.
The story of the game was missed opportunities. Starter Hayden Wesneski was sharp, going six strong innings while allowing just two runs and striking out seven. All the damage came on a single swing—a two-run double by Washington's James Wood in the third inning. Houston's lone response came from the bat of Jose Altuve, who launched his 17th homer of the season in the fifth. The 'El pequeño gigante' provided a spark, as celebrated on the team's social media, but the rest of the lineup couldn't ignite. Despite a sellout crowd cheering them on, the Astros couldn't string together the hits needed to complete the comeback.
While the offense sputtered, the Astros' pitching staff continues to be the team's backbone. Even with the loss, their team ERA sits at a stellar 3.71 (7th in MLB) and their WHIP is an elite 1.18 (2nd in MLB). The bullpen was flawless, highlighted by closer Josh Hader, who pitched a perfect ninth inning to extend his personal scoreless streak to an incredible 12.2 innings. This consistency on the mound is what keeps the Astros atop the AL West, even on days when the runs are hard to come by.
The offensive struggles are put into context when looking at the injured list. Key bats like Jeremy Peña (rib fracture) and Yordan Alvarez (hand fracture) remain out, and the recent loss of Isaac Paredes to a significant hamstring strain certainly doesn't help. The good news is that help for the pitching staff is on the way. J.P. France tossed two innings in a Triple-A rehab game and is eyeing an August return, while Luis Garcia is set to make his own rehab start for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys on August 1. Getting these arms back will provide crucial depth for the stretch run.
Though the loss stings, the Astros remain in control of the AL West with a 60-47 record. The formula for success is clear: dominant pitching and timely hitting. The pitching is holding up its end of the bargain, and now the focus shifts to waking up the bats. With key arms like J.P. France and Luis Garcia nearing a return, the team will need its healthy hitters to step up and carry the load as they push toward the postseason.
