José Ramírez sets a career on-base streak record, but the Guardians fall 5-3 to the Astros on June 8, 2025, losing their fourth straight in extra innings.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was another one of those nights at Progressive Field. A game filled with sparks of hope, a heroic blast from the captain, but ultimately ending in the all-too-familiar sting of defeat. The Guardians dropped their fourth straight game Sunday, falling 5-3 to the Houston Astros in 10 innings, leaving fans to wonder where the team goes from here.
José Ramírez has now reached base in 33 consecutive games, a new career high for the Guardians' superstar third baseman.
The box score tells a frustrating story. Tanner Bibee gave the team a chance, battling through six innings and striking out seven while allowing three runs. But the offense couldn't break through when it mattered most. A wild pitch from Hunter Gaddis in the top of the 10th allowed Jake Meyers to scamper home with the go-ahead run, and the Guardians couldn't answer in the bottom half, with Jhonkensy Noel's strikeout ending the threat and the game. Despite three hits from the ever-consistent Steven Kwan, the bats fell silent at the worst possible moments.
If there's one unwavering bright spot, it's José Ramírez. The man is simply on another level. He single-handedly kept the Guardians in the game with a towering two-run homer in the seventh, his team-leading 12th of the year. More impressively, he extended his on-base streak to a career-best 33 games. Every time he steps to the plate, you feel like something special can happen. He's doing everything he can to carry this team, but even Superman needs a little help.
This four-game skid hurts, especially as the Detroit Tigers have created a five-game cushion in the AL Central loss column. The on-field struggles are compounded by tough news off the field. The team confirmed that right-hander Ben Lively, a key piece of the pitching staff, is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. His absence for the next 12-18 months will be felt, putting more pressure on a rotation that was already being tested. With a 33-30 record, the Guardians are still in the hunt, but the path forward just got steeper.
It's not all doom and gloom. The trade deadline is approaching, and the team's recent offensive struggles, particularly in the outfield, make it clear that the front office has work to do. Help could be on the way. And looking further down the road, the farm system continues to churn out talent. First baseman C.J. Kayfus and shortstop Kahlil Watson are climbing the prospect rankings, with Kayfus showing impressive contact skills and Watson tapping into his power at Double-A. These are reminders that the foundation for future success is still being built.
This is a pivotal moment in the Guardians' season. A four-game losing streak and a major injury could send a lesser team spiraling. But with José Ramírez playing at an MVP level and the team still firmly in the playoff picture, there's no time for panic. They need to dig deep, find a spark from someone else in the lineup, and snap this skid. The coming weeks will show us what this 2025 team is truly made of.
