The defending World Series Champs, the Houston Astros came to the Bronx for a big three game series (May 29-31). Houston cruised to a 5-1 Game 1 victory behind Ace Justin Verlander who has dominated the Yankees recently. Then again Justin has dominated the entire league since his trade deadline move last year from Detroit to Houston. He was the ALCS MVP in October when he went 2-0 over the Yankees allowing only 1 Run in 16 innings with 21 K’s. This year he has allowed only 10 total runs in 12 starts. In Game 1 of this series, he was throwing a shutout until Greg Bird touched him up for a 7th inning Homer. Verlander was taken out with 2 out in the 7th, and playfully tipped his cap as Yankee fans serenaded him with BOO’s. Verlander gave up 5H, 1R in 6.2 inn for the win (7-2) Domingo German went 5.2 inn, 5H 4R, 3ER, 2BB / 7K in a losing effort (0-3)
Game 2 looked like it was following the Game 1 script when Charlie Morton went 6 solid innings leaving with a 5-3 lead with 10 K’s, but Brett Gardner hit a dramatic 2R HR in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game and the Yanks won it in the bottom of the 10th with a walk-off RBI single by Gleyber Torres, after the Yankees ended the top of the 10th in one of the most unlikely ways. Aroldis Chapman uncorked a wild pitch with a runner on 2nd base that flew all the way to the low wall behind the plate but rebounded directly on a fly to Sanchez who made a perfect throw to Andujar who tagged out Kemp to end the inning.The Yankees stole a game that had “loss” written all over it. Why? Well, in the long history of the Yankee franchise, the last time the Yanks won a game in which they made 5 errors and struck out 17 times, was … never !!
With the bizarre Game 2 going in the win column, the stage was set for a great pitching match-up in the rubber-game between Severino and Keuchel.
Game 3 was all-about Yankees Ace Luis Severino. He came into the game not having a loss since April 10th in Boston, and he continued his winning ways retiring the first 11 batters, and overpowering the Astros going 7 innings, allowing 2 runs with 1BB / 11K’s for the W (8-1). As good as this performance was, his last start against the Astros in Houston on May 2nd was better. It was a complete game, 5 hit shutout. Conversely, Dallas Keuchel, after owning the Yankees for years, has now lost his last 3 starts against the Yanks, including the playoffs, giving up 4 runs & 7 hits in 5+ innings in this game. He also took the loss in the Sevy complete game gem on May 2nd.
The regular season series between the two teams is over, with the Yankees taking 5 of 7 games. You can’t help but have the feeling that these 2 teams with meet again in October, except this time hopefully with a different result.
As always,
GO NYY !!
