Yankees Top of the Lineup Drives In Runs in Win Over the Astros

The New York Yankees (1-2) salvaged the final game of a three-game series at the Houston Astros (2-1) on Thursday.  The Yankees used timely hitting and a strong bullpen to win 4-2.

The start of the game seemed like a repeat of the past two nights with the Astros jumping out to a 1-0 in the bottom of the first.  However, the Astros had the bases loaded twice in the inning and the inability to convert the scoring opportunities cost them.

The Yankees took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning. Brett Gardner drove in Ichiro on an RBI single and a Carlos Beltran sacrifice fly drove in Yangervis Solarte.

Derek Jeter joined the scoring parade for the Yankees in the fifth. His line drive to right scored Solarte, extending the Yankees lead to 3-1.

The Astros chopped the deficit down to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth as a Dexter Fowler single scored Jonathan Villar. Then, Robbie Grossman walked to put two men on base with no out. However, the rally was killed when Jason Castro grounded into a double play.

Castro would end up leaving the game after the sixth inning as he was hit on the right foot with a pitch. Carlos Corporan came into the game to replace Castro at catcher.

Ivan Nova (1-0) earned the win for the Yankees pitching 5 2/3 innings. Nova got the Astros to ground into four double plays, despite giving up five walks. David Robertson pitched the ninth inning to earn the first save for the Yankees in the post-Mariano Rivera era. The Yankees bullpen retired the final 10 hitters for the Astros.

Brett Oberholtzer (0-1) was tagged with the loss for Houston. In 5 2/3 innings he got five strikeouts and gave up five hits and a walk.

One item of note: the umpires in the top of the ninth inning flubbed the count as Solarte was up to bat. In what was thought to be a 3-1 count, the umpires huddled and had to go instant replay to determine what the count was against Solarte.  After a delay of three minutes, the count was confirmed at 3-1.  It was the first video review at Minute Maid Park in the new era of instant replay. Solarte ended up walking on the next pitch after the review.

The Astros continue their seven-game homestand Friday with the Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim. Friday's game will have a 6:45p pregame and 7:10p first pitch on SportsRadio 1340 The Fan.