The Yankee offense waited out a tremendous performance by Cristian Javier, who shut them out through 6 innings — and pounced on the Astro bullpen for 7 runs in the last 3 innings to win going away, 7-1 in Houston on a Friday night.
Oswaldo Cabrera led the NY offense with 4 hits, and singled in the tying run in the 7th. Juan Soto was right there with him with 3 hits including a bases-loaded walk in the 7th that proved to be the game winner. At one point the Yankees had 8 hits and those two had 7 of them.
Austin Wells added a bunt-single RBI in the 8th, and 2 Astro errors helped make it a 4-run inning, with Cabrera topping it off by singling in 2 runs to give NY a 6-1 lead. Giancarlo Stanton hit a monster HR in the 9th for the 7-1 final score.
On the Yankee hill, Carlos Rodon wasn’t great, but he wasn’t too bad — pitching with smoke on his fastball and fire in his eye for 4.1 rope-a-dope innings, and leaving down 1-0. The Yankee bullpen came in and shut out the ‘Stros — the Yankees using 5 relievers with Caleb Ferguson, Luke Weaver, and Clayton Beeter looking especially sharp.
“His stuff looks really good,” said manager Aaron Boone afterwards about Carlos Rodon. “Altuve was the one guy who hit a couple of balls hard on him. But otherwise he did a good job — after the leadoff double — of getting the two lefties and making a pitch against (Alex) Bregman who was able to dump it in there. I think stuff wise he’s in a good spot; he looks focused; I like his tempo; it’s just a matter of controlling the strike zone.”
NY improves to 2-0; Houston drops to 0-2.
1. Rodon Rope-a-Doped Astro Lineup
Carlos Rodon had great stuff but he wasn’t great. But he rope-a-doped through. His fastball was smoking at 98 MPH, and his off speed was off speeding, but he made mistakes.
He allowed a leadoff double to Jose Altuve in the bottom of the 1st, got the next two batters, but then got tagged by an Alex Bregman 2-out RBI single.
He worked around 2 walks in the 2nd inning, then allowed a single and a walk in the 3rd to put 1st and 2nd, 1 out. But he struck out Abreu and Chas McCormick to end the inning.
Rodon allowed consecutive singles to lead off the 4th, but then got fly out, line out, and a strike out of Yordan Alvarez.
In the 5th he got a line out to start the inning and left — 4.1 innings, 5 hits, 1 run — ERA 2.08.
Let's go 'Los 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zAhc3brPHt
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 30, 2024
2. Javier Shuts Down Yanks with Breaking Balls
Meanwhile Cristian Javier — who had a great 2022 (11.-9 2.54) but disappointing 2023 (10-5 4.56) — was back on his game looking like the pitcher he was in 2022.
He worked the strike zone with 82-MPH changeups, 80-MPH sliders, and 77-MPH knuckle curves, making his 92-MPH fastball look faster.
Javier shut out the Yankees through 6 innings — with Juan Soto, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Gleyber Torres the only ones getting hits — Cabrera a single and a double.
3. Oswaldo & Soto with 7 Hits
Oswaldo — pressed as the Yankee starting 3rd baseman with DJ LeMahieu on the 15-day IL — had 4 hits (going 4-5 with 3 RBI) and now has 7 hits in the first 2 games.
Juan Soto had 3 hits in 4 at bats with a walk.
4. Yanks JUMP on Astros Pen
Javier left after 6 innings and the Yanks pounced on reliever Travis Scott in the top of the 7th.
Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells worked 1-out walks, and Oswaldo Cabrera singled to tie the game.
Clutch Cabrera 👏 pic.twitter.com/Tj6uZUZdeb
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 30, 2024
Gleyber Torres was hit with a pitch on his hand — loading the bases. Rafael Montero relieved Scott, and walked Juan Soto for a Yankee lead, 2-1.
5. Houston Errors Aid Yanks in 8th
Houston brought in Parker Mushinski for the 8th and the Yanks pounced some more, with the help of poor Astro defense.
Anthony Rizzo led off with a single, Alex Verdugo worked a 1-out walk,
Volpe hit a grounder to short, but Jeremy Pena made a throwing error, allowing a run to score and putting 2nd and 3rd.
Austin Wells then laid down a bunt single, and a throwing error by pitcher Mushinski put runners on 2nd and 3rd.
Well, Well, Wells… look what we have here 👀 pic.twitter.com/6Rr6f7rOtk
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 30, 2024
Cabrera then singled in 2 runs and it was 6-1 NY.
We found Waldo & Waldo found a 4-hit night 👊 pic.twitter.com/cwaGx9DGWp
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 30, 2024
6. Giancarlo BLAST
Giancarlo Stanton topped off the rout with a BLAST in the 9th for a 7-1 NY lead.
Stant'n on Business. pic.twitter.com/qAuxtw4T0g
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 30, 2024
7. Yankee Bullpen Spotless
Meanwhile the Yankee bullpen pitched 4.2 shutout innings.
Nick Burdi relieved Rodon in the 5th and finished the inning.
Luke Weaver pitched 1.1 shutout innings and looked Great.
Victor Gonzalez came in with 1 out in the 7th — NY up only 2-1 at the time – and allowed a walk and a single, but was saved on a terrific sliding catch in the outfield by Juan Soto of an Alex Bregman fly for the 2nd out.
Soto Slidin' Catch 🙌 pic.twitter.com/nUDU2QxpVi
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 30, 2024
Gonzalez was relieved by Caleb Ferguson who got Jose Abreu to fly out and end the threat
Ferguson pitched a shutout 8th, NY up 6-1 at the time, and then Clayton Beeter made his Major League debut with a shutout 9th inning.
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