Angels fall to Astros 3-2 on June 21, 2025, in a heartbreaking walk-off loss. Despite homers from Adell & Moore, a wild pitch in the 10th sealed the defeat.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was the kind of loss that stings just a little bit more. In a tense, back-and-forth battle against the division-rival Houston Astros, the Angels' hopes for a Saturday night victory evaporated in the most agonizing way possible: a walk-off wild pitch in the 10th inning. The 3-2 defeat at Angel Stadium was a microcosm of the 2025 season—flashes of power, gritty pitching, but ultimately not enough to overcome a single, critical mistake.
The Angels have hit 105 home runs, ranking 3rd in the majors, but their team batting average sits at a lowly .225, 28th in MLB.
For nine innings, it was a classic nail-biter. The Astros jumped out to an early lead with first-inning homers from Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes, but the Angels clawed their way back. Jo Adell launched a solo shot in the fourth, and C. Moore tied it up with his own homer in the seventh. Starter Yusei Kikuchi was sharp, navigating into the sixth inning and keeping the Halos in the game. But the drama peaked in the 10th when a wild pitch allowed Mauricio Dubón to scamper home from third, sealing the devastating loss and dropping the Angels to 36-39 on the season.
This team's identity is written in the box score every single night. The Angels rank an impressive 3rd in all of baseball with 105 home runs, proving they can change a game with one swing. However, that power masks a deeper issue. The team's collective batting average is a paltry .225 (28th in MLB), and their overall run production (303 runs) is in the bottom third of the league. Saturday was a perfect example: both Angels runs came via the solo homer. Without runners on base, the power isn't enough to consistently win these tight contests.
It's hard to find consistency when key cogs are missing from the machine. The Angels are still navigating a minefield of injuries, with slugger Jorge Soler (back), Yoan Moncada (knee), and key bullpen arms like Ben Joyce (shoulder) and Robert Stephenson (biceps) all sidelined. The lack of depth is palpable, forcing the team to rely on fewer players to carry the offensive load and putting more pressure on an already taxed bullpen. With no new transactions or farm system call-ups on June 21, the Halos have to battle on with the roster they have.
As the dust settles on another tough loss, the Angels remain in 3rd place in the AL West, still within striking distance but acutely aware of how crucial these divisional games are. Under Ron Washington, the fight is there, but the execution needs to sharpen. The challenge now is to bounce back tomorrow, find a way to manufacture runs beyond the home run, and prove that this team's power can translate into the wins they so desperately need as the season's halfway point looms.
