For eight straight summers, the Houston Astros have found a way to extend their season to the playoffs. However, this summer, they might have to witness it from outside. Reason behind it? Angels slugger Mike Trout transformed what should have been a relaxing night into a nightmare that has put Jose Altuve’s team on the verge of getting out of the playoffs.

Houston started the night off right with crisp pitching and a quick three-run lead that quieted the home crowd. Jose Altuve and his team set the pace with timely hits and strong defense. But as the innings went on, the momentum faded, and Los Angeles slowly closed the gap.

The game was tense by the eighth inning, when it was tied at 3–3. That’s when Mike Trout struck the final blow. His second home run of the night, and that rocket measured 395 feet, broke the tie and gave the Angels a 4–3 lead. With that swing, the Angels secured their crucial win, putting the Astros on the verge of elimination.

Mike Trout’s performance this season tells the story of a superstar finding his rhythm despite battling through physical setbacks. In 452 at-bats in 2025, he has 104 hits, 25 home runs, 63 RBIs, and 2 stolen bases. His batting average is .230, and his OPS is .787. The 34-year-old reflected after the 2 solo homers, “I definitely have more confidence.” “It’s something I can take into the offseason and work on. It’s good to see results. I’ve said it before throughout the years, it would feel good in the cage, but I just wouldn’t get results. But now I’m getting results.”

Houston’s chances of making the playoffs are very slim after Friday’s setback. They are 85–75, behind Detroit and Cleveland for the last AL wild-card slot, and they don’t have any tiebreaker advantage over either team. They need to win their last two games and need either Detroit or Cleveland to lose their last two games in order to make the playoffs. Because the standings are so close and Houston has little control over them, they can’t afford to make a mistake.

Despite mounting pressure and dwindling options, the clubhouse remains optimistic. “It sucks, but there’s still a chance,” first baseman Christian Walker said. “That’s all we need. We’re motivated as long as there’s still an opportunity. Yeah, we made it a little bit harder, but it is what it is. You can’t spend too much time dwelling on it. It’s time to focus on winning tomorrow.”

For the Astros, it was not a good day. However, for Mike Trout, the homer turned his night into a historic one.

Beyond the big hit, the homer was Mike Trout’s 25th and No. 403 of his career

Mike Trout not only helped the Angels win a critical game, but he also made history for the team. In that game, he hit his 25th home run of the season and his 403rd career home run. His bat lifted the scoreboard and pushed him up the all-time charts for Los Angeles.

Trout noted that his increase in power is more due to being able to see the baseball better than to chasing his goal. He said that his rise was due to changes in his swing and better plate recognition, not because he was happy to have passed 400. Mike Trout has stayed focused on the mechanics.

His homers came in a pattern. No. 398 on August 6, No. 399 on September 11, and ultimately No. 400 the Saturday before, with a 486-foot smash at Coors Field. These milestones, in order, provided his seasonal improvements and set the framework for what came next.

He also moved up the scoreboard for his club as a result of this. Trout moved up to second place on the Angels’ all-time RBI leaderboard with his latest RBIs. He now has 1,017 RBIs as an Angel, which is second only to Garret Anderson’s franchise record.