Backed by Back-to-Back Homeruns and Clutch Hitting, Yankees Take Game 1 Over Astros
Photo by Frank Franklin II/AP
In tonight’s game, the New York Yankees only had five hits against the Houston Astros, but they took advantage of them winning 4-3. It started in the first inning when the Yankees put up a three spot against Astros’ starter Cristian Javier. Javier was able to get leadoff hitter Jake Bauers to fly out to center before walking Aaron Judge. Gleyber Torres would then fly out to center field for the second out. Things quickly went into the Yankees favor when Giancarlo Stanton and Billy McKinney hit Back-to-Back no doubt homeruns giving the Yankees a 3-0 lead.
The Yankees’ next two hits would come off the bat of Gleyber Torres who hit two singles in the 3rd and 5th inning. In the 6th inning, Astros pitcher Kendall Graveman would still be in the game, after getting the final out of the 5th inning, and would get two quick outs getting McKinney to strike out and Isiah Kiner-Falefa to ground out. Graveman would lose a bit of control, walking Harrison Bader, who would then steal second base, putting a runner in scoring position for the Yankees. Graveman would throw two balls to Anthony Volpe before throwing a sinker that Volpe could line into right field for a single, scoring Bader.
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The starting pitcher for the Yankees on the night was Clarke Schmidt, who was 4-0 in the month of July with a 4.57 ERA over 21.2 innings pitched with 20 strikeouts. What really had helped Schmidt is that the Yankees offense seemingly wakes up for him, scoring at least five runs in all four of those July starts.
Schmidt in tonight’s game would continue pitching well going 5 innings pitched, giving up 2 earned runs, 4 hits while striking out 4. He was in line for the Win, but unfortunately, Wandy Peralta would give up a solo homerun to Kyle Tucker in the top of the 6th inning to tie the game. Peralta would only throw 9 pitches and get only 1 out while giving up 2 hits. Michael King would come in to get the last 2 outs before pitching the 7th inning as well. Tommy Kahnle would pitch a 1-2-3 8th inning before Clay Holmes would come in to close the 9th. Holmes would get into a bit of trouble giving up 2 singles with the dangerous Jose Altuve up to bat with 2 outs. Luckily for the Yankees, Holmes would get Altuve to groundout to shortstop to end the game.
The second game of this four game set happens tomorrow night as Hunter Brown takes the mound for the Astros. Brown is 7-7 on the season with a 4.12 ERA. Luis Severino will look to rebound after a struggling performance against the Baltimore Orioles giving up 9 earned runs over 3.1 innings pitched.
