The night started oddly enough with the Astros scratching rookie pitcher Jake Bloss from his scheduled start against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Minute Maid Park.
They did so to trade him to the Toronto Blue Jays in a controversial move that saw three prospects leave for struggling starter Yusei Kikuchi.
It ended with the Astros' bullpen coughing up a late lead in the ninth inning, squandering what started out as a promising, albeit impromptu bullpen game.
Houston led Pittsburgh 2-0 after five innings before Yasmani Grandal cut the score in half with a solo home run in the sixth.
Then with Ryan Pressly pitching for Houston in the eighth, Oneil Cruz hit an RBI double to tie the game. It would be up to closer Josh Hader, who signed a five-year, $95 million deal with the Astros this offseason, to keep the score tied and give Houston a chance to walk it off.
Instead, walked two batters, the first time he's done that in one inning since joining the team. Hader then gave up a three-run homer to Michael A. Taylor and the Astros lost 5-2.
With the Astros and Seattle Mariners both losing Monday night, they are tied atop the American League West standings going into Tuesday's action.
