Hunter Brown gave the Astros exactly the kind of start they needed Sunday. The bullpen and offense gave him almost nothing in return.
Houston fell 4-2 to Atlanta in the final regular-season game at Daikin Park, completing a three-game Braves sweep and dropping the Astros to 77-79 with six games remaining. The victory also clinched the NL East division title for Atlanta.
Brown was dominant through five scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and two walks while striking out 10. He left with a 1-0 lead after throwing 96 pitches.
Jose Altuve provided that lead with a solo home run in the fourth, his 16th of the season. Houston had an opportunity to add on in the fifth when Brice Matthews, making his first start since returning from the injured list, opened the inning with a bunt single. Jeremy Peña reached on a forceout, Yordan Alvarez singled, and Isaac Paredes walked to load the bases with one out. Altuve struck out, and Yainer Diaz grounded into a forceout to leave the bases loaded.
One Inning Changes Everything
Bryan King replaced Brown to begin the sixth, and the game unraveled immediately.
King walked Michael Harris II before former Astro Mauricio Dubón doubled to put runners at second and third. Ozzie Albies followed with an RBI single to tie the game. Mike Yastrzemski then hit his 12th home run of the season, a three-run shot to right-center that gave Atlanta a 4-1 lead.
King faced four batters without recording an out, allowing three hits, a walk, and four earned runs. Miguel Ullola replaced him and stopped the damage, ultimately pitching two scoreless, hitless innings with one walk.
Tatsuya Imai followed with two perfect innings and four strikeouts as Houston’s bullpen kept Atlanta off the board after the disastrous sixth.
Astros Offense Comes Up Short Again
Diaz gave Houston a little life with a solo home run in the eighth, his 13th of the season, cutting Atlanta’s lead to 4-2. But that was as close as the Astros would get.
Houston finished with eight hits but went just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base. Alvarez and Diaz each had two hits, while Altuve and Diaz accounted for both Astros runs with solo homers.
The Astros went quietly in the ninth as Nick Allen, Matthews, and Peña struck out in succession.
“This was not a good series, and there’s no doubt about it that we need to bounce back,” manager Joe Espada said after the game.
Six Games Remain
The loss completed an Atlanta sweep and left Houston at 77-79. With Texas also losing to Toronto, the Astros remain one game behind the Rangers in the AL West with six games left in the regular season.
Houston has played its final home game of the regular season and will spend the final week on the road, beginning with two games in Seattle before closing the season with four against the Athletics in Sacramento.
The Astros are off Monday and return Tuesday to face the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. First pitch is scheduled for 8:40 p.m. CT, with Cristian Javier expected to start for Houston against Seattle’s Logan Gilbert.
Heading to Daikin Park soon? Check our complete Astros promotions schedule before your next game.
