Hunter Brown kept the Mets off balance for 6.2 innings, striking out 10 as the Houston Astros defeated New York 3-1 at Citi Field. The Mets led 1-0 after scoring in the fourth, but Houston flipped the game with three runs in the sixth and never gave the lead back. Daulton Varsho supplied two of those runs, while Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader closed the final 2.1 innings without allowing another Mets score.

Brown was the decisive force, allowing Houston to control the game despite a quiet first five innings. His 10 strikeouts came across 6.2 innings, and his 3.33 ERA entering the night reflected the level of run prevention the Astros received from their starter. Christian Scott kept New York within reach for 5.1 innings, but five walks repeatedly extended Houston’s chances and left the Mets vulnerable when the Astros finally broke through in the sixth.

Varsho finished 1-for-4 but made his lone hit matter, driving in two runs during Houston’s three-run rally. The Astros then turned the game over to their bullpen: Abreu recorded 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, and Hader handled the ninth with two more punchouts while protecting the two-run margin. New York had limited offensive support outside Marcus Semien, who went 2-for-2, and failed to score after the fourth inning.

The victory moved Houston to 68-67 and gave the Astros a formula they can trust in close games: a starter capable of covering deep into the night, timely damage against free passes, and a clean finish from the late-inning arms. New York fell to 60-75, with Scott’s five walks and the offense’s eight scoreless innings after the fourth defining a narrow loss that offered little margin for error.