HOUSTON, TX – July 29, 2025 – The losing ways continue for the Houston Astros, who dropped their fifth consecutive game on Monday night, falling 2-1 to the Washington Nationals at Daikin Park. This latest defeat, coming on the heels of a demoralizing four-game sweep by the Athletics, further highlights a concerning slump for the AL West leaders.
Last night’s contest was a tightly-pitched affair, with both starters dealing. Astros ace Framber Valdez delivered a dominant performance, tying a season-high with 12 strikeouts over six innings and becoming the 10th pitcher in franchise history to reach 1,000 career strikeouts. He allowed just one run on three hits and two walks, a performance that would typically lead to a win. Nationals starter Brad Lord was equally impressive, holding the Astros scoreless through 5.1 innings.
The Astros finally broke the deadlock in the fifth inning when Mauricio Dubón hit an RBI double, scoring Yainer Diaz to put Houston up 1-0. However, the Nationals quickly responded in the sixth when Nathaniel Lowe’s RBI double off Valdez tied the game.
The decisive blow came in the top of the seventh. With the game tied 1-1, Nationals catcher Riley Adams launched a solo home run off Astros reliever Bryan King, giving Washington the 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. The Astros’ offense, which managed just one run for the fourth consecutive game, once again struggled to generate consistent scoring threats.
This loss pushes the Astros’ record to 60-47, and extends their season-high losing streak to five games. The team will look to snap out of their slump tonight as they continue their series against the Nationals on what promises to be a magical Harry Potter Night at Daikin Park.
