NEW YORK The Houston Astros defeated the New York Yankees 4-3 on Thursday night to avoid being swept in the season series thanks to big home runs from Yordan Alvarez and Jon Singleton in the first inning.
Astros manager Joe Espada stated, “When he hit it, he looked in the dugout (as if he was) saying ‘Hey, I’m coming.” “And we know he’s coming and we can’t wait for him to get here.”Before Thursday, Alvarez was 3 for 32 with no home runs in his previous nine games.
He launched a two-out solo shot at 116.8 mph against Marcus Stroman (2-2) into the right field second deck.
Two batters later, Singleton drove a two-run home run at 115.4 mph off the facade along the third deck in right field, sparking wild celebrations in the dugout, which Alvarez helped organize. In Stroman’s career, it was only the ninth occasion where he gave up two home runs in one inning.
“Stroman’s a good pitcher, typically he stays out of the middle part of the plate,” remarked Singleton. “He made a pitch down the middle and that’s all I could hope for.”
TV cameras caught Alvarez leaning along the railing and exclaiming, “Whoa!” with wide eyes. When Singleton heard Alvarez’s response, she smiled.
Singleton remarked, “That means I hit it real well.”
The Astros became the only team to smash two home runs in an inning with bat speeds of at least 115 mph since the Statcast era began in 2015 and continues to this day. This season, the home runs were the balls that were hit hardest against the Yankees.
For the Astros, who have lost their first six games of the season, they have been outscored 40-18 by the Yankees, whom they defeated in the AL Championship Series in 2017, 2019, and 2022. Jeremy Peña had two hits, including an RBI single in the fifth inning.
Volpe had the Yankees’ lone hit in 16 plate appearances with a runner on base.
“I loved how the guys kept scratching,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Blanco allowed four hits and walked four with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. He threw a career-high 107 pitches — including 14 against Rizzo during a fourth-inning at-bat during which the Yankees first baseman fouled off 10 straight pitches before whiffing on an 86 mph changeup.
“My goal there was for him not to get on with a free pass,” Blanco said via an interpreter. “He was going to have to get a hit off of me right there.”
Stroman gave up four runs and a season-high nine hits over 5 1/3 innings.
“Can’t let up three in the first,” Stroman said. “Just feel like I don’t give my team a chance when I do that.”
MINOR MOVE
The Yankees claimed RHP Colby White off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays and assigned him to Double-A Somerset. White, 25, has a 2.83 ERA in four minor league seasons, but was 0-2 with a 17.61 ERA in nine games at Triple-A Durham before being designated for assignment last Friday. He was selected by the Rays in the sixth round of the 2019 draft.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: Pressly, who’d been battling a sore lower back, pitched for the first time since last Friday. … RHP Jose Urquidy (right forearm) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Sugar Lake. Manager Joe Espada said Urquidy will throw 60-65 pitches. … RHP Cristian Javier (neck) will come off the injured list to start against the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.
Yankees: IF DJ LeMahieu (right foot) will continue ramping up this weekend, when he accompanies the team to Tampa Bay for a three-game series against the Rays. … OF Jasson Dominguez (Tommy John surgery) is expected to begin a rehab assignment within the next two weeks.
UP NEXT
Astros: Continue a six-game road trip Friday night, when LHP Framber Valdez (1-1, 3.97 ERA) starts against the Tigers and RHP Casey Mize (1-1, 3.98 ERA). Valdez has given up seven runs in 10 1/3 innings in his first two starts since missing three-plus weeks due to a sore left elbow.
Yankees: Begin a six-game road trip Friday night, when RHP Clarke Schmidt (3-1, 3.50 ERA) takes the mound against Rays RHP Taj Bradley, who’s making his season debut. Schmidt has allowed three runs or fewer in 32 starts dating the beginning of 2023, the second most in the majors behind Sonny Gray.
