Any time you can take a series in New York, it’s a good day, even if you’re the 2017 Astros.
For the 2026 .500 Astros, coming off a 3-and-6 homestand, and winning the rubber match against future Hall of Famer and former Astro Gerrit Cole… “How sweet it is.”
This game began as a pitcher’s duel between one of this generation’s best, Cole, and journeyman Hayden Wesneski, whom the Astros hope will help fill gaping holes in their starting rotation.
The Astros broke through first in the third inning when a hit-by-pitch and a single somehow scored a run: the hit-by-pitch to Jeremy Pena, the single by Isaac Paredes. Yes, Pena scored from first on a two-out single.
The one run held until the sixth inning, when Christian Walker’s two-run homer just barely over the right-field wall gave the Astros a 3-0 lead.
However, the Yankees finally got to Wesneski in their half of the sixth on a Ben Rice double and two sacrifice flies. Wesneski finished his night completing five official innings, allowing three hits and two walks, while striking out six.
The Astros took back that run in the seventh off Yankees reliever Yerry Do Los Santos on a leadoff homer by Jeremy Pena.
The Yankees gifted the Astros with their fifth run with a flub for the ages. A two-out double by Walker resulted in a run when the Yankees committed two errors on the same play. First, on a routine grounder by Yainer Diaz, George Lombard let the ball bounce off his glove. The ball landed in the glove of third baseman Jose Cabellero, who airmailed a throw that had no chance anyway, scoring Walker.
This was Lombard’s sixth error in six straight games. Yankee commentators say it’s a case of the yips, as young Lombard is viewed as a defensive specialist.
After Steven Okert finished Wesneski’s sixth inning, AJ Blubaugh blanked the Yanks through the eighth, and then Josh Hader overpowered them in the ninth in a non-save situation.
With tonight’s win, the Astros assume a one-game lead in the AL West over the Rangers, who were idle tonight.
The Astros take a trip across the Hudson to face the Mets tomorrow.
Feature photo from @astros on X, Source Link. (cropped)
Nothing better then curb stomping the Yankees
I know I sound like a broken record. This Astros team has a chance, but it’s grossly mismanaged. I’d have fired Espada and keep Brown till the end of the season to move players from/to Sugar Land