Astros rally late to win a thriller

Astros daily report: Astros 4, Yankees 3

Astros daily report: Astros 4, Yankees 3
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

The Astros and Yankees clashed Monday night in the first of three games. Here's how the big matchup went:

Final Score: Astros 4, Yankees 3

Record: 6-5, second in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Ryan Pressly (1-0).

Losing pitcher: Adam Ottavino (1-1).

Star of the game: Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa both had huge hits tonight, but Robinson Chirinos had the biggest; a huge two-RBI double to shift the momentum back in Houston's favor late in the game before they'd eventually take the lead and win.

Notes: The Yankees struck first, loading the bases with one out against Verlander on a hit and couple of walks in the top of the third before getting an RBI single to take a 1-0 advantage. Verlander did well to limit the damage to just one run, setting up Jose Altuve to tie the game with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Aaron Judge broke the tie in the next inning, getting a solo home run to put New York back on top 2-1, then Clint Frazier tacked on another run in the top of the sixth, extending the lead to 3-1. Will Harris took over on the mound for Houston in the seventh, working around a hit and a walk to complete a scoreless inning. The Astros went to work against Zach Britton in the bottom half of the seventh, getting two on base before Robinson Chirinos hit a clutch two-RBI double to tie the game 3-3. After a great top of the inning from Ryan Pressly out of the bullpen, Carlos Correa came up with runners on first and third and one out in the bottom of the eighth and put the Astros ahead with a good luck broken-bat infield single to put Houston ahead 4-3. Roberto Osuna came in for the save in the top of the ninth and converted the opportunity to seal the win.

Up next: The series will continue tomorrow night at 7 PM with game two of three. The Astros will look to Gerrit Cole to hold the Yankees' offense down, while New York will send out Jonathan Loaisiga.

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Kyle Tucker returns to Houston this weekend. Composite Getty Image.

Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.

The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.

The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.

On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.

Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.

The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.

How the mighty have fallen.

Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.

Screenshot via: MLB.com



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