Houston’s season didn’t end with a single play. It ended with a pattern the numbers wouldn’t let them escape.
There are clean endings, and then there was the way the Houston Astros’ run snapped. After eight straight Octobers, their postseason streak ended when elimination became official during the final weekend, turning the end of the regular season into a matter of pride, not positioning.
What makes the ending sting is how long Houston looked like Houston. Even with numerous stars on the IL, and a lineup that rarely felt whole, the Astros spent much of the summer nudging the division from the top spot — until the Mariners caught fire and ripped the AL West banner down for themselves.