The Astros fell to the Guardians 4-2 on June 8, 2025, after a costly error by Steven Okert. Despite Jake Meyers' 4 hits, a late rally was spoiled.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's the kind of loss that stings. A hard-fought game, a late rally to tie it up, and then one costly mistake snatches it all away. That was the story Sunday in Cleveland, as a seventh-inning throwing error by Steven Okert handed the Guardians a 4-2 victory, putting a damper on an otherwise successful road trip for the Houston Astros.
Jake Meyers matched a career high with four hits, a bright spot in the Astros' 4-2 loss.
The game was a tight affair, but the seventh inning was where it all unraveled. After a clutch, two-run double from Cam Smith tied the game 2-2, the momentum felt like it was shifting to Houston's dugout. But the tie was short-lived. Reliever Steven Okert, on in relief, allowed Nolan Jones to score the go-ahead run on a costly throwing error. The Guardians tacked on another, and Okert was ultimately tagged with the loss, spoiling what could have been a series win.
While the final score was a disappointment, there were standout individual efforts. Jake Meyers was a one-man wrecking crew at the plate, matching his career high with four hits and continuing his hot streak. Meanwhile, lefty Brandon Walter, just recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land, gave the team exactly what it needed. In his spot start, Walter went six strong innings, allowing just two runs and keeping the Astros squarely in the game. It was a gutsy performance from a player thrown into the fire.
Walter's solid outing is the latest example of the Astros' organizational depth being put to the test—and passing. With three-fifths of the original starting rotation still on the injured list, the 'next man up' mentality has been crucial. Players like Walter, along with earlier-season heroes Ronel Blanco and Spencer Arrighetti, have stepped up from the farm system to fill massive holes, proving that Houston's success is built on more than just its star players.
It's important to zoom out from the single loss. The Astros finished their six-game road trip with a very respectable 4-2 record. They have won 10 of their last 14 games and, most importantly, they return to Houston still sitting comfortably atop the AL West standings. A tough loss is just that—one loss. The team remains one of the hottest in baseball.
The sting of Sunday's loss will fade, but the success of the road trip remains. Now, the Astros head home to Minute Maid Park for a six-game homestand, kicking things off against the Chicago White Sox. With Lance McCullers Jr. slated to take the mound for the opener, Houston has a perfect opportunity to wash away the taste of defeat and continue its strong play in front of the home crowd.
