The Houston Astros won their ninth consecutive game against New York teams on Thursday night, defeating the New York Yankees.
The Astros won 2-1 after Alex Bregman hit a two-run double in the first inning.
Houston won 3-2 against the major league-leading Yankees and swept four games against the Mets, who had the second best record in baseball before being surpassed by the Astros.
The Yankees scored just two runs in their last three losses to Houston. This included a 3-0 loss to the Astros on Saturday, when three Astros pitchers combined for a no-hitter.
The Yankees were in town for one game to make up for a series that was canceled due to the lockout. The series will be completed with a doubleheader here on July 21.
Houston starter Luis Garca (6-5) earned his third straight victory by allowing three hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings while striking out six batters. Ryan Pressly struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 17th save.
In the third, Jake Meyers doubled with no outs before Aledmys Daz walked with two outs. Kyle Tucker walked to load the bases before Bregman’s double made it 2-0 Houston.
The Astros had a chance to extend their lead, but the inning ended on an unusual play due to a problem with New York starter Luis Severino‘s PitchCom device.
Severino removed his cap and held the PitchCom speaker to his ear during Yuli Gurriel’s at-bat, apparently unable to hear instructions from catcher Jose Trevino.
Tucker attempted to steal home while Severino was distracted at third base. Severino was holding the PitchCom earpiece in his right hand and needed to move quickly to get the baseball back in his throwing hand. He threw home while still wearing his cap, and his throw beat Tucker by a hair and ended the inning.
Severino was asked about throwing the device while still holding his cap.
Boone praised the heads-up play.
Baker thought it was a good opportunity for Tucker to seize.
The Yankees had a four-game winning streak snapped after Anthony Rizzo hit a solo homer in the sixth inning, but they couldn’t generate much else on offense.
In six innings, Severino (4-3) allowed three hits and two runs.
The Astros were missing slugger Yordan Alvarez and shortstop Jeremy Pea after they were involved in a nasty outfield collision in a win over the Mets on Wednesday. Baker said both were still being tested for concussions and that he didn’t know how long they’d be out.
Garcia had struck out three straight batters and had retired seven of the previous eight batters when Rizzo hit his 21st home run into right field to cut the lead to 2-1 and chase Garcia with one out in the sixth. Giancarlo Stanton greeted Ryne Stanek with a single before Gleyber Torres walked with two outs in the inning.
Stanek retired Jose Trevino for the third out, extending his scoreless inning streak to 20.
UP NEXT
Yankees: New York’s Gerrit Cole (6-2, 2.99 ERA) faces Cleveland’s Aaron Civale (2-4, 7.20) in the opener of a three-game series between the Yankees and Guardians on Friday night.
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