• The Houston Astros were swept in a four-game series by the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park.
• Astros were outscored 24-8 over the four games.
• The team set a new franchise record by allowing their opponent to score first in 18 consecutive games.
• Starter Colton Gordon surrendered two first-inning home runs in the 7-1 series finale loss.
• A's pitcher J.T. Ginn pitched six shutout innings, allowing only three hits.

There are bad losses, there are frustrating series, and then there's what happened at Minute Maid Park this weekend. The Houston Astros were not just beaten but utterly dismantled by the Oakland Athletics, culminating in a 7-1 beatdown on Sunday that sealed a humiliating four-game sweep. The loss, their fourth straight, ties a season-high skid, but it's the way they're losing that has alarms blaring across Houston.

For the 18th consecutive game, the Astros' opponent scored first—a new, unwanted franchise record that puts them on the brink of dubious MLB history.

Dominated From the Start

Sunday's game was a microcosm of the entire series. The A's jumped on starter Colton Gordon immediately, with Miguel Andujar launching a leadoff home run in his first career start at the top of the order. Before fans could settle in, Shea Langeliers followed with another homer, and the game felt over before it began. Gordon battled for five innings but surrendered four runs, while the Astros' bats were silenced by Oakland's J.T. Ginn, who scattered just three hits over six shutout frames. A single, meaningless eighth-inning run was all Houston could muster, a pathetic offensive showing to cap a weekend to forget.

History for All the Wrong Reasons

The first-inning homers didn't just put the Astros in a hole; they cemented a new franchise record. For 18 straight games, Houston has allowed its opponent to score first. This isn't just bad luck; it's a trend of catastrophic proportions. It forces the offense to play from behind every single night and puts immense pressure on a bullpen that's already been overworked. The team is now just one game shy of tying the 1987 Baltimore Orioles for the longest such streak in the MLB expansion era (19 games). It's a statistical indictment of the team's inability to start strong, whether on the mound or at the plate.

Reinforcements Can't Come Soon Enough

While the team on the field struggles, the injury report offers little immediate solace. The absence of Isaac Paredes and his middle-of-the-order bat is glaring, with the third baseman still out indefinitely with a significant hamstring strain. Lance McCullers Jr. remains sidelined with a blister, disrupting the rotation's stability. While there's positive news with Luis Garcia set for a rehab game and Luis Guillorme already on one, their returns aren't imminent. The recent roster shuffling, like recalling Luis Contreras, shows the front office is trying to patch holes, but the core issue remains: the healthy players simply aren't performing.

With their record now at 60-46 and the Seattle Mariners creeping closer, this four-game losing streak feels like a potential turning point in the season—for better or for worse. The Astros are officially on 'Record Watch' for one of the most embarrassing streaks in modern baseball. They desperately need to snap out of this funk, score first for a change, and remind the league—and themselves—that they are still the team to beat in the AL West. The next series isn't just a game; it's a test of this team's character.