BOSTON, MA – August 1, 2025 – The highly anticipated new era of Houston Astros baseball began with a frustrating 2-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox tonight at a packed Fenway Park. Despite the emotional returns of Carlos Correa and Jeremy Peña, and a strong pitching performance from Hunter Brown, the Astros’ offense struggled to convert opportunities, allowing the Red Sox to secure a narrow victory.
The Astros got on the board early, breaking the scoreless tie in the top of the second inning. First baseman Christian Walker, a recent acquisition, blasted a solo home run to left-center field, giving Houston a crucial 1-0 lead and exciting the visiting crowd.
Astros starter Hunter Brown (now 9-6) was sharp, working into the seventh inning and limiting the Red Sox to just one earned run. He finished with a line of 6.0+ innings pitched, 1 earned run, 4 hits, 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts, showcasing the form that has made him a reliable arm for Houston.
However, the Red Sox tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a leadoff single by Alex Verdugo, Wilyer Abreu hit a sacrifice fly off Brown, scoring Verdugo and knotting the game at 1-1.
The game remained a tense, pitching duel, characterized by solid defense on both sides. Notably, in the bottom of the third inning, Correa, in his debut at third base, made a quick reaction play to field a sharp grounder and turn a double play. For the Red Sox, center fielder Jarren Duran made an amazing leaping catch in the fourth inning, robbing Correa of a potential extra-base hit.
The Astros had their chances. Jeremy Peña, in his return from the injured list, looked sharp at shortstop and collected three hits (3-for-3), but was left stranded. Jesus Sanchez, making his Astros debut in left field, also recorded two hits (2-for-3), showing flashes of his potential. Unfortunately, a key moment came in the top of the sixth when Jose Altuve was picked off first base by Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez, squashing a potential rally.
The decisive run for the Red Sox came in the bottom of the eighth inning. Following a leadoff double by Jarren Duran off reliever Rafael Montero, Duran advanced to third on a groundout. After an intentional walk to load the bases, the Red Sox scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Triston Casas, making it 2-1.
The Astros put the tying run on base in the ninth but couldn’t push it across. Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen sealed the victory.
Tonight’s 2-1 defeat is a frustrating start for the revamped Astros, who hoped to immediately turn the page on their recent struggles. While the individual performances of Peña, Sanchez, and Brown offered bright spots, the team’s inability to capitalize on offensive opportunities proved costly. The Astros will look to even the series in Game 2 tomorrow, eager to show that their new lineup can consistently deliver wins.