YANKS TAKE 2 OF 3 AGAINST SLUMPING ASTROS

The New York Yankees kicked off a three game series against the Astros with a win. Luis Gil was on the mound against the struggling Justin Verlander. Gil had a great outing giving up only one run in 6 innings, a solo home run to Kyle Tucker in the first inning. While Verlander gave up 7 runs in 5 innings. Verdugo was solid at the plate with a three run home run in the first inning and 2 RBIs off a single in the third inning. Anthony Volpe also has a solid performance with 3 RBIs and a home run. Other top hitters were Giancarlo Stanton with a solo home and Juan Soto with 3 hits. The Astros attempted a comeback in the ninth inning with a two run single by Trey Cabbage but that was it. The Astros are having one of their worst seasons in a very long time. Yankees won 10-3.

Carlos Rodon bounces back and the Yankees defeat the Astros in game two, 9-4. Rodon pitched a solid 6.1 innings and only gave up 2 runs and struck out 7. Spencer Arrighetti got the start for the Astros and gave up 5 runs in 5 innings. Kyle Tucker had a solo home run in the first inning but Juan Soto answered with a two run home run. The Yankee bats kept swinging with two monster solo home runs by Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton in the third inning. Soto’s bat was hot throughout the game driving in 5 of the Yankees’ runs.

Astros avoid the sweep, winning the final game is the series, 4-3 with Ronel Blanco on the mound vs. Marcus Stroman. Blanco and Stroman both pitched 5.2 innings. Blanco gave up 2 runs and Stroman gave up 4. The Astros had two home runs in the first inning by Yordan Alvarez and Jon Singleton, putting them ahead 3-0. The Yankees didn’t score until the third inning on a two run home run by Anthony Volpe.  Blanco had a career high 107 pitches, 14 of which were against Anthony Rizzo in the fourth inning where he fouled off 10 straight pitches.  Aaron Judge hit a monster 473 ft. solo home run in the bottom of the 8th inning off Ryan Pressly but the rest of the Yankees struggled against Josh Hader who came in and got the save, giving up only one hit.

The Yankees move on to a three game series in Tampa Bay on Friday.