The A’s walked into this three-game set with nothing but pride on the line, while Houston came in fighting for its playoff life. And guess what? Pride won two out of three. Sacramento’s squad turned Sutter Health Park into a proving ground, spoiling Houston’s push by snatching the first two games. The A’s may not be heading to October baseball, but they made sure the Astros were sweating bullets every step of the way. This is the essence of playing spoiler—no playoffs on the horizon, but plenty of chances to drag contenders down with them.

Thursday’s finale saw Framber Valdez finally rediscover his old form, mowing down A’s hitters with 10 strikeouts over seven innings to stop Houston’s five-game skid. Nick Kurtz provided the lone highlights with a sixth-inning solo shot and and an 8th inning 2 run homer, a reminder that the A’s young core is still building toward something special. Even in an 11–5 loss, the A’s showed life, fight, and flashes of a brighter future. This wasn’t just a series win—it was a message: the A’s may be done in 2025, but they’re not done making noise. And for Houston? They may have kept their season alive, but the A’s just proved they’re no one’s punching bag.

A’s vs Astros recap, Athletics vs Astros September 25 2025, A’s win series over Astros, Nick Kurtz home run, Framber Valdez Astros highlights, Jose Altuve playoff push, Sacramento A’s Dreamcrushers, A’s take 2 of 3 Astros, Houston Astros Wild Card race, Locked On A’s podcast

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