Astros Edge Yankees 9-7 Behind Diaz’s Three Hits and Alvarez’s Go-Ahead Drive

Diaz Powers Astros Offense

Alex Bregnan did not play, but his teammates delivered enough offense to secure a 9-7 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday. The Houston Astros (66-66) finished with nine runs, while the visiting side benefited from a standout hitting performance by Diaz.

Diaz was the primary catalyst for Houston’s scoring output. He hit two home runs during the contest: a 383-foot shot to left-center in the second inning and a 356-foot homer to right in the eighth. Additionally, he recorded a single to left in the ninth inning that scored Smith on an error, completing his three-hit night.

Key Inning Turns the Tide

The game remained tightly contested through five innings, with New York (74-57) holding a 3-2 lead after Varsho singled to left, allowing Altuve to score. Houston took control in the third inning when Bellinger homered to right (368 feet), driving in Grisham and García Jr. for a 3-2 Astros advantage.

The lead extended in the fifth when García Jr. hit a 379-foot home run to right, bringing in Rice.

New York tied the score at 5-5 in the sixth on a Peña home run to left-center (385 feet), with Diaz scoring. However, the eighth inning proved decisive. After Diaz’s second homer leveled the game at 6-6, Alvarez tripled to right, scoring Peña. Paredes followed with a single to center, bringing Alvarez home for an 8-6 lead.

Pitching Performances

Houston’s bullpen closed out the win effectively. Ethan Pecko started for the Astros, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing five runs on five hits with four walks and one strikeout. Bennett Sousa pitched 1.2 scoreless innings, retiring the side in order with no hits or walks allowed. Steven Okert worked 0.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits.

Bryan Abreu entered in a critical situation and secured the win. He pitched one inning, facing three batters and allowing three hits and one earned run, but did not walk any hitters. Josh Hader recorded the save (19), pitching 1.1 hitless innings with one walk allowed and one strikeout.

Yankees starter Will Warren lasted five innings, giving up two earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Fernando Cruz pitched one inning, allowing two earned runs on one hit. Yerry De los Santos worked one scoreless inning.

Brent Headrick took the loss (7-3), pitching 0.2 innings and allowing three earned runs on four hits. Bradley Hanner closed with 1.1 innings of work, striking out three batters.

Final Notes

The game was played at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York, before a crowd of 43,229 spectators. The loss drops the Yankees to 74-57 on the season, while the Astros improve to .500 at 66-66.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401816667