Houston is handed another tough loss
Urquidy exits early with injury as Orioles feast on struggling Astros bullpen
Jun 29, 2021, 11:06 pm
Houston's bullpen could not keep Baltimore off the scoreboard on Tuesday. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Houston's bullpen could not keep Baltimore off the scoreboard on Tuesday.
After a disappointing loss in the opener against the Orioles, the Astros returned to Minute Maid Park on Tuesday to try and even the series and still get in line for a potential series win. Instead, after an early exit by Jose Urquidy, things went from bad to worse for Houston as their bullpen would watch Baltimore hand them a lopsided loss.
Final Score: Orioles 13, Astros 3
Astros' Record: 48-32, first in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Alexander Wells (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Ralph Garza Jr. (0-2)
Urquidy exits early with an injury
In disappointing news for the Astros, their starter Jose Urquidy not only gave up a solo homer to start his night, but he would also get one out into the second before leaving with an apparent injury. Houston would turn to Andre Scrubb to make the emergency entrance from the bullpen, and he was able to finish the second and the third and fourth, all while keeping Baltimore to their one run. Houston was able to tie the game in the bottom of the second, getting a runner to third to set up a sac fly by Abraham Toro. They went on to load the bases with two outs but would leave all three runners stranded and the game tied 1-1.
Astros tie, Orioles jump back in front late
Brooks Raley was Houston's next reliever in the top of the fifth, and he would watch the Orioles jump back in front with a two-out two-RBI single to make it 3-1. The Astros responded with a two-run inning of their own in the bottom half, putting two on base to set up a two-RBI single for Toro to give him three on the night and tie the game.
Ralph Garza Jr. took over in the top of the sixth for Houston, retiring the side in order before continuing in the seventh. The Orioles would retake the lead against him the next inning, converting a leadoff single with a two-out RBI double. Ryne Stanek came in for the third out of that inning, then in the top of the eighth allowed a solo homer to make it a two-run game, then a bases-clearing double to make it 8-3.
Houston drops another to give Baltimore the series win
Blake Taylor came in to try and stop the bleeding, but he too would allow a run, making it 9-3 before it was all said and done. Houston then ceded to use a position player, Robel Garcia, in the top of the ninth, who allowed two two-out two-run homers to make it 13-3. That score would go final, in another disappointing loss where the Astros' pitching could not string together enough success to hold an opposing offense at bay.
Up Next: The series finale between the Astros and Orioles will be another 7:10 PM Central start on Wednesday. Houston will look to Luis Garcia (6-4, 2.83 ERA) to try and salvage a win in the series, while Baltimore will send Matt Harvey (3-9, 7.54 ERA) to the mound.
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A month into the 2025 season, the Houston Astros have emerged as one of MLB’s most confounding teams. Their offense ranks near the bottom of nearly every key category, yet they remain competitive thanks to a pitching staff that has quietly become one of the most formidable in baseball.
Despite winning back-to-back games just once this season, Houston’s pitching has kept them afloat. The Astros boast a top-10 team ERA, rank seventh in WHIP, and sit top-eight in opponent batting average—a testament to both their rotation depth and bullpen resilience. It’s a group that has consistently given them a chance to win, even when the bats have failed to show up.
Josh Hader has been the bullpen anchor. After a rocky 2024 campaign, the closer has reinvented himself, leaning more heavily on his slider and becoming less predictable. The result has been electric: a veteran who’s adapting and thriving under pressure.
Reinforcements are also on the horizon. Kaleb Ort and Forrest Whitley are expected to bolster a bullpen that’s been great but occasionally spotty—Taylor Scott’s 5.63 ERA stands out as a weak link. Lance McCullers Jr. missed his last rehab outing due to illness but is expected back soon, possibly pairing with Ryan Gusto in a piggyback setup that could stretch games and preserve bullpen arms.
And the timing couldn’t be better, because the Astros' offense remains stuck in neutral. With an offense ranked 26th in OPS, 27th in slugging, dead last in doubles, and just 24th in runs scored, it's clear the Astros have a major issue producing consistent offense. For all their talent, they are a minus-two in run differential and have looked out of sync at the plate.
One bright spot has been rookie Cam Smith. The right fielder has displayed remarkable poise, plate discipline, and a polished approach rarely seen in rookies. It’s fair to ask why Smith, with only five Double-A games under his belt before this season, is showing more patience than veterans like Jose Altuve. Altuve, among others, has been chasing too many pitches outside the zone and hardly walking—a troubling trend across the lineup.
Before the season began, the Astros made it a point to improve their pitch selection and plate discipline. So far, that stated goal hasn’t materialized. Many of the players who are showing solid discipline—like Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker—were already doing that on other teams before joining Houston. It raises the question: are the Astros’ hitting coaches being held accountable?
The offensive woes are hard to ignore. Catcher Yainer Diaz currently owns the second-worst OPS in baseball, while Walker ranks 15th from the bottom. Even a star like Yordan Alvarez has yet to find his groove. The hope is that Diaz and Walker will follow Alvarez's lead and trend upward with time.
With so many offensive questions and few clear answers, a trade for a left-handed bat—whether in the outfield or second base—would be ideal. But with the front office laser-focused on staying below the tax threshold, don’t count on it.
For now, Houston's path forward depends on whether the bats can catch up to the arms. Until they do, the Astros will remain a team that looks good on paper but still can’t string wins together in reality.
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