Why Houston Astros narrowly avoiding history was best-case scenario
ON SECOND THOUGHT
14 September 2023
After losing the first two games of the series against the A's this week, the Astros looked to avoid the sweep and bounce back with Hunter Brown on the hill. And boy did they.
Hunter Brown pitched 5 no-hit innings leading to a crucial 6-2 win over Oakland. Brown had only thrown 78 pitches when manager Dusty Baker decided to make the call to the bullpen. Which was a controversial talking point after the game.
When asked about his decision to pull Brown after the fifth inning, Baker explained that Hunter's pitch count would have only allowed him to go one more inning, regardless of the no-hitter possibility.
Baker elaborated, saying it's been a struggle for Brown recently (24 earned runs in his last 30 innings prior to Wednesday) and he wanted to get him out of the game on a high note. Especially with a rested bullpen and an off-day on Thursday.
With one down in the 9th inning, closer Ryan Pressly allowed the first hit of the game. And it might have been the best thing for the Astros. Instead of celebrating a combined no-hitter while losing a crucial series to the A's, the team can keep their focus on taking care of business against the Royals this weekend.
Be sure to check out the video above as we discuss what Brown's performance means moving forward, if Baker made the right decision to pull Hunter Brown, and why missing out on another no-hitter might be for the best long-term.
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Mauricio Dubón homered twice and Josh Hader stayed perfect in 19 save chances this season by getting Mike Trout to line out to center field with a runner on second as the Houston Astros held off the Los Angeles Angels 8-7 in the rubber game of their series Sunday.
DUBI SENDS ONE OUT! #VoteDubi ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHQMR1 pic.twitter.com/XqKhVxPgOs
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 22, 2025
Dubón's second career multihomer game began with a leadoff shot against starter Kyle Hendricks in the fifth inning for the Astros' first run. Dubón added a two-run drive off Hunter Strickland for a 6-5 lead in the sixth.
DOUBLE DUBI DAY! #VoteDubi ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHRkGz pic.twitter.com/4dx2q3rvUa
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 22, 2025
Jeremy Peña had an RBI double and Jake Meyers added a sacrifice fly to make it 8-5.
Nolan Schanuel hit an RBI single for the Angels in the seventh, and Zach Neto trimmed it to 8-7 with a solo homer off Hader in the ninth. Schanuel finished with three hits and four RBIs.
Peña hit his 11th home run one out after Dubón’s shot in the fifth to tie it 2-all. Meyers singled, stole second and scored on a two-out error by Luis Rengifo at third base. Christian Walker followed with an RBI double for a 4-2 lead.
Taylor Ward had a two-out double off Astros rookie Ryan Gusto, and Logan O'Hoppe hit his third two-run homer in two days to give the Angels a 2-0 lead in the second. O'Hoppe has 17 home runs and is closing in on the team record for a catcher set by Lance Parrish with 22 in 1990.
LaMonte Wade Jr. and Christian Moore singled in the bottom half, and Schanuel gave the Angels a 5-4 lead with his sixth homer.
Gusto (5-3) allowed five runs and six hits in six innings with seven strikeouts.
Hendricks permitted five runs — three earned — in five innings. Strickland (1-2) worked an inning and was tagged with his first three earned runs this season.
Key moment
The Angels had a run in with two on and two outs down 8-6 in the seventh with Trout coming to bat. Bryan Abreu replaced Bryan King and needed just three pitches to strike out Trout swinging on a pitch in the dirt.
Key stat
Trout went 1 for 11 after entering the series as the active leader against Houston with 30 homers, 30 doubles and 73 RBIs.
Up next
Houston returns home to play the Philadelphia Phillies beginning Tuesday.
The Angels hadn't announced a starter for Monday's series opener against RHP Walker Buehler (5-5, 5.95 ERA) and the visiting Boston Red Sox.
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