Houston is back to .500 on the year
Yankees pull ahead late to secure series against Astros
May 5, 2021, 9:43 pm
Houston is back to .500 on the year
After a disappointing loss on Tuesday in the series opener, the Astros returned to the Bronx on Wednesday night to try and even the series and set up a rubber match on Thursday. Instead, the Yankees would pull ahead late to secure the series and drop the Astros back to .500 on the season.
Final Score: Yankees 6, Astros 3.
Astros' Record: 15-15, third in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Jonathan Loaisiga (3-1)
Losing Pitcher: Brooks Raley (0-2)
With rain falling in the early innings, both teams struggled to make contact with the ball at the plate, getting just one hit each in the first three innings. New York's happened to be a doozie, with Luis Garcia hitting DJ LeMaheiu with a pitch in the bottom of the third to bring Giancarlo Stanton to the plate who blasted his second home run in as many games to put the Yankees in front 2-0.
Three runs. Five hits. #Astros lead. 🤘#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/msDdq151et
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 6, 2021
Houston responded in the top of the fourth, loading the bases on three straight singles to lead off the inning. Carlos Correa got the Astros on the board with an RBI groundout, and then they brought in two more to take a 3-2 lead on RBI doubles by Yuli Gurriel and Aledmys Diaz though an aggressive send of Carlos Correa potentially left a run off the board.
Garcia would do mostly well, with the home run the only runs he allowed. He pitched into the fifth, but with a two-out single followed by a walk, and rising pitch count, Dusty Baker would lift him in favor of Ryne Stanek. After yet another poor at-bat by the home plate umpire in this series, where there was an easy strike three to be called, Stanek would watch Stanton capitalize on the extra pitch by getting his third RBI, a double to tie the game.
The game stayed gridlocked 3-3, with the Yankees leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth against Stanek. Bryan Abreu tossed a scoreless seventh, erasing a leadoff single and walk with a strikeout and double play. Brooks Raley was Houston's next reliever in the bottom of the eighth but would record no outs while allowing the go-ahead run on two singles and a walk, leaving runners on the corners for Joe Smith.
Smith hit his first batter on the first pitch he threw, loading the bases, still no outs. A sac fly and yet another RBI for Giancarlo Stanton, bringing him to four on the night, would extend New York's new lead to 6-3 before Smith could finish the frame. Houston would come up empty in the ninth, moving them to 15-15 on the year and looking to salvage one game to avoid the sweep in the finale.
Up Next: The finale of this three-game series will be an afternoon start on Thursday, with the game getting underway at 12:05 PM Central. It'll be an exciting pitching matchup, with Lance McCullers Jr. (2-1, 3.38 ERA), who was on the mound to eliminate the Yankees in the 2017 ALCS, appearing for Houston opposite of former-Astro Gerrit Cole (4-1, 1.43 ERA) now on the Yankees.
CultureMap is making our final preparations for The Tailgate, our all-out party devoted to everyone’s favorite way to get in the gameday spirit. It’s coming to you Monday, November 11 at 8th Wonder in EaDo.
Attendees who treat themselves to VIP tickets get a number of perks, including early admission and a dedicated bar. And we’re upping the game with a special meet-and-greet with two of the Houston Texans' most popular alumni — defensive stars Brian Cushing and Travis Johnson, courtesy of presenting sponsor Verizon.
Photos by Getty Images.
Selected in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft, Cushing won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. In a nine-year career with the team, he compiled 424 solo tackles, which ranks third all-time for the Texans. Fans appreciated his full-throttle playing style and team-first mentality.
Johnson, also a first-round pick, played four seasons for the Texans. His outspoken personality has made him one of the team’s most popular alumni. He lives in Missouri City with his five children. He told Texans broadcaster Drew Dougherty that he takes his role as a team ambassador seriously.
“It meant to me being an ambassador of the brand as far as let the young guys know what the standard is. Let the young guys know what it means to be a Houston Texan. Around here, it was always about family. It was always about how you go to work, how you go about your work,” Johnson said during an episode of the Texans “Where Are They Now” podcast.
Attendees of The Tailgate will enjoy a range of experiences showcasing local sports and local food. More than a dozen restaurants will be serving game day-inspired bites, including Big City Wings, The Waffle Bus, Josephine’s Gulf Coast Tradition, Pizaro’s Pizza, Uchi, and Uchiko.
Don't forget to vote for your favorite wings in our bracket-style Ultimate Wing Showdown; the winner will be announced at the event.
The event will also shine a spotlight on local sports organizations, including the Texans, which will raffle off a CJ Stroud-signed White Panel Football. The Astros will show off their Shooting Stars dancers as well as the 2017 and 2022 World Series Trophies, and their Shuttle Crew team will bring prizes. Houston soccer stars the Dynamo and Dash will raffle team-signed jerseys.
Guests can expect more fun, games, and prizes courtesy of our event sponsors and local vendors, including Verizon, HOWDY, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Houston Powder Coaters, Holey Moley Golf Club, Mizzen + Main, Shipley Do-nuts, and more.
Tickets are $75 for VIP and $50 for General Admission. For a limited time, we’re giving you $10 off; use code SPORTSMAP at checkout. Get your tickets now.
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The Tailgate is presented by Verizon and sponsored by HOWDY, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Houston Powder Coaters, Holey Moley Golf Club, Mizzen + Main, Shipley Do-nuts, East River 9, and more to be announced.