HOUSTON — The Yankees might have the best record in the majors, but some things haven’t changed, like having rough losses in Houston.
After the Yankees tied the game with a run in the top of the ninth, Houston won it in the bottom of the inning on J.J. Matijevic’s two-out bases-loaded infield single off Michael King to send the Yankees to a 3-2 loss in the first game of Thursday’s split doubleheader at Minute Maid Park, where the two sides appear ready for a battle for the top spot in the American League.
Giancarlo Stanton and Jordan Montgomery both called holding onto the best record — and home-field advantage in the playoffs — “huge.”
“We’ve got to make sure we get it,’’ Stanton said.
The Yankees had their season ended in Houston in both 2017 and 2019 thanks to the Astros having that edge.
Entering Thursday’s nightcap, the 64-29 Yankees held a 3 ¹/₂-game lead over Houston (60-32) for the best record in the AL.
The Yankees began their seven-game road trip out of the All-Star break by dropping their fourth game in six tries against the Astros this season.
“We’ll definitely have to get through them, as well as other great teams, to get where we want,’’ Stanton said.
The second half got off to a tough start, as King gave up a leadoff single to Alex Bregman in the bottom of the ninth and hung a 1-2 slider to Aledmys Diaz, who doubled to left, putting runners on second and third with no one out.
King recovered and struck out Yuli Gurriel.
Yordan Alvarez, just off the injured list, pinch hit for Mauricio Dubon and was walked intentionally to load the bases for Chas McCormick, who also whiffed.
Matijevic, hitting for Korey Lee, ended it with a broken-bat single to the left side.
Facing right-hander Cristian Javier — who tossed seven no-hit innings in The Bronx on June 25 (in the combined no-hitter with Hector Neris and Ryan Pressly) — the Yankees’ offense had a hard time again.
Javier, though, was much less dominant than when he struck out 13 in his previous outing versus the Yankees.
He struggled with his command on Thursday, yet after outscoring the Red Sox 27-3 in their final two games before the break, the Yankees could manage just two hits over Javier’s five innings, stranding a pair of runners in the first and third.
And they were held to just three hits until they rallied to tie the game in the ninth.
Montgomery gave up a run in each of his first two innings, but that was it, as he struck out eight over 6 ¹/₃ innings.
After nine no-hit innings against Javier, the Yankees finally broke through with a single by Anthony Rizzo in the third, which sent DJ LeMahieu to second after his leadoff walk.
Aaron Judge walked to load the bases for Matt Carpenter, but the DH lined to first and Gurriel was able to double off Judge at first.
Glebyer Torres lined to left to end the threat.
LeMahieu got the Yankees on the board with a one-out opposite-field homer just inside the right-field foul pole off Javier in the fifth to make it 2-1.
Though the Yankees again had a tough time getting to Javier, they forced him to throw 99 pitches to get through five innings.
Neris came in for the ninth, with Pressly, the regular closer, on the paternity list.
Neris gave up a one-out single to Aaron Hicks, who moved to second on Stanton’s pinch-hit groundout. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, pinch hitting for Marwin Gonzalez, singled through the left side of the infield to score Hicks and tie the game at 2-2.
Joey Gallo walked to bring up LeMahieu, who grounded out.
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July 22, 2022 at 03:49AM
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Yankees lose to Astros on walk-off hit in Game 1 gut punch - New York Post
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