The Athletics squared off against the Houston Astros in the second-to-last game of the 2026 MLB season. After a year marked by numerous lopsided defeats, the A’s once again fell hard, losing 13-2 as their league-worst pitching staff couldn’t prevent the Astros from piling on the runs.
Astros Take Command Early
A’s starting pitcher Jack Perkins struggled immediately, giving up a solo homer to Astros’ third baseman Isaac Paredes—his 25th of the season—with two outs in the first inning. Perkins bounced back to strike out the side in the second. Houston extended their lead in the third when shortstop Jeremy Peña hit his 21st home run, a two-run shot off Perkins that made it 3-0. Meanwhile, Astros pitcher Hayden Wesneski was efficient, throwing only 20 pitches through three scoreless innings and inducing back-to-back double plays to stifle the A’s offense.
Athletics Mount a Rally
The A’s generated momentum in the fourth by loading the bases with one out against Wesneski. Peña’s miscue on a potential double-play grounder gave the home team an opening. Zack Gelof’s aggressive baserunning led to an RBI force out, scoring Lawrence Butler for the Athletics’ first run. Peña compounded the error by pulling the first baseman off the bag, allowing Gelof to reach safely. Despite the opportunity, Donovan Walton’s groundout left runners stranded on the corners, limiting the damage.
Perkins Struggles to Contain Astros
In the fifth inning, Perkins was unable to prevent further damage. With two outs and runners on, Astros’ DH Yordan Alvarez crushed a three-run homer—his 42nd of the year—pushing Houston’s lead to 6-1. Just a pitch earlier, A’s catcher Jonah Heim chose not to challenge a borderline call that likely clipped the strike zone, and Alvarez capitalized immediately with his 10th home run allowed by A’s pitching in this series. Overall, Perkins gave up six runs on five hits across five innings while striking out nine but was undone by the home runs.
Astros Maintain Comfortable Lead
A’s reliever Scott Blewett entered in the sixth and quickly allowed two runners on before striking out the next two. Lefty Drew Rom relieved Blewett and escaped the jam unscathed. Wesneski cruised through six innings on just 60 pitches. The Athletics managed a second run in the seventh off a two-out single from first baseman Tommy White.
A’s Bullpen Continues to Falter
Rom stayed in the game for the seventh inning but gave up four singles and two runs, with Lucas Spence doubling in the third run of the inning, Houston’s ninth. Reliever Yunior Tur appeared overwhelmed in the eighth as Peña launched his second homer of the night, a two-run blast, extending the Astros’ lead to 11-2. Two more hits brought the total to 12 runs. The next inning, Spence added his fourth homer of the series off Tur. Astros reliever Ronel Blanco shut down the game’s final two innings, preserving bullpen arms for an important game tomorrow.
Looking ahead, the Athletics hope to win the season finale to split the series and possibly eliminate the Astros from playoff contention. The A’s will start right-hander Seth Johnson, while the Astros have yet to announce their pitcher.
Fan Take:
This game highlights the stark contrast between a struggling pitching staff and a dominant offensive powerhouse, underscoring how crucial pitching is in baseball’s competitive balance. For fans, it’s a reminder that every season’s final series can shape playoff destinies and keep the drama alive until the very end.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
