Marcus Stroman allowed 3 runs on homers to Yordan Alvarez and Jon Singleton in the top of the 1st inning, putting the Yanks down 3-0 while many fans were still entering Yankee Stadium for the 5pm start.
The Yanks mounted several comebacks but fell “this” short:
- In the bottom of the 1st the Yanks got their first 2 runners — Anthony Volpe and Juan Soto — on, and Aaron Judge hit a screaming line drive down 3rd that was inches foul. He then struck out and Alex Verdugo hit into a double play.
- In the 3rd Anthony Volpe hit a 2-run homer to make it 3-2.
- The Astros went up 4-2 with a run off Stroman in the 5th to make it 4-2, but
- Aaron Judge hit a 473-foot MONSTER BOMB in the 8th to make it 4-3.
- In the 9th, the Yanks put the tying run on 2nd base with 1 out, but Jose Trevino flied out to left and Anthony Volpe struck out against Houston closer Josh Hader.
Houston’s Ronel Blanco — a 30-year-old right hander off to a great start this season — pitched into the 6th and goes to 4-0 2.23.
“He doesn’t give in,” said manager Aaron Boone about Stroman. “He continues to trust that he’ll keep making pitches. I thought stuff wise and everything, he did that today. Obviously a tough 1st inning — he gets the first 2 guys out real quick then 2 strikes on Alvarez and he hits the solo homer and Singleton really put a charge into one there after he lost Pena. Tough 1st inning but he battled through; got out of a big jam in the 2nd and gave us a solid effort and gave us a chance.”
NY falls to 25-14. Houston drops to 13-24.
1. Stroman Takes the Loss
After allowing the 2 homers in the top of the 1st, Stroman got into a jam in the 2nd — a leadoff double, infield single, and 1 out single by Jose Altuve loaded the bases with 1 out. But Stroman struck out Kyle Tucker and got Alvarez to line out to left.
After that Stroman settled down — getting 3 straight outs after a leadoff single in the 3rd, and pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the 4th. But in the 5th, a 1-out double by Yordon Alvarez and single by Jeremy Pena plated a run to make it 4-2.
Stroman finished with 5.2 innings, 4 runs on 9 hits, striking out 5, walking 2. He takes the loss to do 2-2 3.80 on the year.
2. Yanks Waste Chance in 1st
The Yanks looked like they would get right back in the game in the bottom of the 1st — as Blanco was wild. Anthony Volpe singled to left and Juan Soto walked on 5 pitches.
Aaron Judge hit a screaming line drive down 3rd on a 2-2 pitch, just foul by inches — it would have probably been 2 runs if fair. Judge then struck out, and Alex Verdugo hit into an inning-ending double play.
3. Blanco Pitched Well
Overall Blanco pitched well — getting a lot of groundouts on his slider and changeup, and getting 5 K’s with his 94-MPH fastball and changeup.
Anthony Rizzo had the At Bat of the game against Blanco in the 4th, when he fouled off 9 straight 2-2 pitches before striking out on that changeup — a 14-pitch At Bat.
Ronel Blanco, Filthy 86mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/jZ3VpwcXZT
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 9, 2024
4. Volpe HR
In the 3rd, Oswaldo Cabrera reached on an infield single and Anthony Volpe hit a high fly ball to the opposite field right that “just” nestled into the short porch for a 3-2 game!
AV outta here 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ndc13a0uVY
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 9, 2024
5. Judge MONSTER SHOT
Down 4-2 in the 8th, Aaron Judge hit a MONSTER shot to left center off Ryan Pressly — 473 feet — for a 4-3 game.
473 ft 🤯#ALLRISE pic.twitter.com/bRXRfo1QGS
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 9, 2024
6. Weaver & Santana & Marinaccio for the Finish
Luke Weaver relieved Stroman with 1 on and 2 outs in the 6th, and was tremendous as usual — getting the final out of the 6th and pitching a 1-2-3 inning in the 7th.
Luke Weaver, Nasty Changeups. 👌👌 pic.twitter.com/yew7ZHBOk0
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 9, 2024
Dennis Santana pitched a shutout 8th, allowing only a 2-out single.
Ron Marinaccio pitched a shutout 9th, although he struggled a bit — allowing a leadoff single and 2-out walk. But he got a big K of Yordan Alvarez to end the inning stranding runners on 2nd and 3rd to keep the Yanks in the game, down 4-3.
After the game Marinaccio — who has pitched well this year sporting a 1.42 ERA with only 5 hits allowed in 12 innings (with 5 walks) — was sent back down to the minors.
7. Yanks Fall Short in 9th
Josh Hader has been Horrible for Houston this year, after signing a 5-year, $19M-a-year contract this winter. He entered with a 6.14 ERA — but looked like the Josh Hader of old — tricky delivery where he twists his body hiding the ball until the last second, and then throws a 97-MPH sinker with movement.
Gleyber Torres led off the 9th with a single, and moved to 2nd on a bunt by Jon Berti.
Jose Trevino hit a fly to left that was deep enough to be a sac fly — but Gleyber was on 2nd.
With 2 outs, Anthony Volpe worked an 8-pitch at bat — but Hader struck him out swinging on a 97-MPH sinker for the old ballgame.
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