The Houston Astros (13-24) have endured a disastrous campaign so far, which has left them bottom of the AL West with the fourth worst record in Major League Baseball.  Their season began at home with a four-game series against the New York Yankees, in which they were swept.  Since then, they have struggled mightily, whilst their opponents have gone from strength to strength, led by their new superstar Juan Soto.  The Yankees are currently second in the AL East with the third best record in the American League of 25-14. The Astros visited Yankee Stadium for their second series of the season, a three-game slate, with the opportunity to begin to turn their year around. However, the opposite occurred, as the hosts continued their hot start.

Game 1 – Yankees 10-3 Astros

The young Luis Gil took the mound for game one, taking on 41-year old and future hall of famer Justin Verlander.  The Astros’ pitcher has notoriously performed against the Yankees, but could not stop the dominant lineup as they rocked him for seven earned runs in an emphatic 10-3 win.

Alex Verdugo was the main offensive threat, going 3-5 with one home run and four RBI.  Soto also starred with three hits.  However, it was the visitors who made a strong start with right fielder Kyle Tucker recording his 10th home run of the season with one out to make it 1-0 at the top of the first inning.  He took advantage of a four-seam fastball to send it into the seats.

It was an instant response in the bottom of the first as Verdugo crushed his fifth homer of the season to right center field, scoring Soto and Aaron Judge after the pair singled and walked. Gil pitched two consecutive hitless innings as they entered the third in which Verdugo added another RBI.  His single scored Soto once again, who had singled himself on a sharp line drive to right.

Gil continued to pitch excellently, giving his side the opportunity to extend their lead even further.  The fourth got off to a strong start as catcher Jose Trevino got on base with a line drive to left.  With one out, Anthony Volpe came to the plate, and he hit a two-run homer on the second pitch he saw to make it 6-1 Yankees.  The Astros were again retired in order, bringing up Giancarlo Stanton in the fifth. They continued to hit off Verlander with another home run as Stanton tacked on a seventh run.

That proved to be it for the veteran pitcher, but the Yankees continued to rake. Judge contributed his first RBI of the evening to score Jon Berti and make it eight.  Ron Marinaccio came in to pitch in relief for Gil after an impressive outing.  He gave up a walk to the leadoff hitter Jon Singleton, but was able to draw a double play and ground out to end another scoreless inning. It became 9-1 as Berti joined in on the fun and added an RBI of his own to score Stanton.  The 10th and final run for the Bronx Bombers came courtesy of Volpe who grounded into a force out but his speed meant that he beat the throw at first, allowing Anthony Rizzo to score.

Though it was too little too late, Yankees relief pitcher Michael Tonkin struggled as the visitors pulled back a pair of runs, thanks to a walk and an error which preceded a Trey Cabbage single.  This is where the scoring ended as Jake Meyers grounded out to finish the game.

Game 2 – Yankees 9-4 Astros

Game two was similarly one-sided, though the final scoreline was slightly closer.  Carlos Rodon was the starting pitcher for the Yankees, hoping to continue his strong start to the season, coming up against right-hander Spencer Arrighetti, who has struggled with an 8.44 ERA. 

For the second day in a row, the Astros got off to a flying start, as Tucker once again homered in his first at-bat. However, just like the night before, the Yankees responded immediately to go ahead.  Volpe singled on a ground ball to get the inning going, before Soto demolished the first pitch he saw to make it 2-1.  Rodon then retired the side in order, to bring up the bottom of the second.  Arrighetti was not comfortable, as expected, allowing a single to Rizzo, before walking Gleyber Torres.  He managed to get two outs, but was met with Soto once more as Volpe also got on base.  Soto’s hot bat was still on fire as he singled to first, using his speed to score Rizzo.  However, there was confusion on the bases between Volpe and Torres, who had both ended up at third, which resulted in an inning ending out.

Judge got in on the action with his eighth home run of the season, as he is in the midst of some fine form in recent games.  He crushed the first pitch, sending it out to right center field.  With one out, Stanton hit his second home run of the series and eighth of the campaign to make it 5-1.  This was recorded as the hardest hit ball of the season so far at an incredible 119.9mph.

This was the end of the scoring until the bottom of the sixth, with the Yankees adding on another run. After a double and two walks to Austin Wells, Oswaldo Cabrera and Volpe loaded the bases, Soto grounded out, allowing a run to score.  The runs kept coming as Judge recorded another hit, doubling on a sharp line drive to center to score two more.

The Astros picked up their second run after Meyers tripled to score Mauricio Dubon, who had earlier hit a double.  This signalled the end of Rodon’s strong outing.  Jeremy Pena made it 8-3 in the eighth, with a home run.  The game was already out of hand, but Soto made sure with one last RBI to make it nine.

Game 3 – Yankees 3-4 Astros

Houston finally picked up a win to avoid the sweep snapping an eight-game losing streak against their opponents. Most of their damage was done early in the game. Marcus Stroman took the ball for the Yankees, whilst the Astros leaned on the reliable arm of Ronel Blanco.

Stroman started strong, striking out Jose Altuve, before Tucker grounded out. With two outs and a full count, Yordan Alvarez homered to put the Astros 1-0 up, which they had been in the previous two games.  The difference is that this time, they were able to add to their lead, not allowing the Yankees a quick response. After Pena walked, Singleton sent the ball to the third tier of the upper deck with a monstrous shot to right field.  This made it 3-0 Astros for their biggest lead of the series.

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There was another threat in the top of the second, as Stroman struggled with his command. Yainer Diaz doubled, before a single from Joey Loperfido put two men on base with no outs.  Dubon flied out, but Altuve singled to load the bases. However, the right-hander managed to pitch himself out of trouble.

A fight back from the Yankees occurred in the third, as Cabrera singled with his first hit of the game. Leadoff hitter Volpe stepped up with his fifth homer of the season, taking advantage of the Yankee Stadium short porch to cut the deficit to one.  This is how it remained until the top of the fifth, when Pena singled to score Alvarez, which restored a cushion for his team.

Three scoreless innings followed, as neither side could take advantage of men on base. The Yankees finally cut the Astros lead to 4-3 at the bottom of the eighth, as Judge hit his second home run of the series, sending the ball 473ft to center field.

They could not complete the comeback, with star closer Josh Hader recording the four out save for the Astros win.

What's Next?

The Yankees make the trip to face the Tampa Bay Rays for a three-game series, whilst the Astros return home to take on the Detroit Tigers.