Yankees Bats Must Make Better Contact
Game three for the Yankees starts well, with Gerrit Cole striking out three in the first. His biggest, Kyle Tucker, came after he hit Yordan Alvares and allowed a single to the hottest hitter in this series, Alex Bregman. Cristian Javier got the Yankees bats to make soft contact. Anthony Rizzo and Aaron Judge popped out and Giancarlo Stanton struck out on a slider.
McCormick Gives Astros The Lead
After two quick outs in the second, one of them a deep fly ball from Trey Mancini, a Yankees error costs them. Harrison Bader and Judge almost collide, making Bader drop Christian Vasquez’s line drive. The next hitter, Chas McCormick, gets enough of a 98 MPH 1-1 fastball to make it 2-0. His home run clips the top of the right field wall, and bounces over. Cole just barely gets out of the top of the second as Jose Altuve was out by the length of spikes.
New York hitters continue to struggle against Astros pitching. Javier strikes out Josh Donaldson and Matt Carpenter, bringing the Yankees total to 33 in this series. Those strike outs, and a Bader pop out, enabled Javier to work around a lead off walk to Gleyber Torres. Cole shuts down Houston in the top of the third, fanning Alvarez and Jeremy Pena, before getting Bregman to line out to Stanton. Javier battles with Rizzo, but Javier retires him, and the Yankees, in order.
Cole Settles Down After Home Run
Mancini’s walk makes him the only Astros hitter to reach since McCormick’s home run. His 70 pitches through the first four innings make it hard to believe he will last beyond the sixth inning. The Judges Chambers section in right field is a cool touch, I must admit. Those fans will not rise though, as Judge cannot connect on a slider. 73% of Javier’s outs are fly outs, and after giving up his first hit in Yankee Stadium, a double to Stanton, Torres fouls out to Yuli Gurriel and Carpenter flies out to McCormick. Javier’s slider and fastball combo have kept New York’s bats silent.
Altuve Ends Hitless Streak
Altuve breaks his 0-25 streak with a one out double down the right field line. Cole leaves him stranded at third after Pena grounds out and Alvarez fans on a 98 MPH high fastball. Javier takes the mound in bottom of the fifth having thrown only 57 pitches. He keeps the same pace, thanks to the arm of Vasquez. Bader hung out over the plate, and was able to coax a lead off walk. Vasquez’s throw allowed Pena to tag Bader on the calf just before his foot hit second base. Donaldson flew out and Oswald Cabrera waved at a 93 MPH fastball.
Trevino Cannot Bail Out Cole
Cole leaves after loading the bases in the top of the sixth. Lou Trevino relieves him, coming in to get New York out of the toughest spot. Bregman doubled, Tucker walked after fouling a ball off his knee, and Gurriel singled. Judge faked as if he could catch Gurriel’s soft liner, keeping Bregman at third. Mancini makes it 3-0 on a sacrifice fly to Stanton. One pitch later Vazquez singles to Stanton. Tucker scores, and Gurriel’s good jump allows him to slide in ahead of Stanton’s throw. McCormick and Altuve ground out to finally get the Yankees out of the inning. Trevino’s slider proved to be far more hittable than his sinker.
New York must find a way to score in the bottom of the sixth. The Astros bullpen has continued its excellent work in this series, so far. Javier walks his third batter, Rizzo, ending his night. His line: no runs, one hit, five K’s, three BBs in 5.1. The Stanton double was the only hit he has allowed in 12.1 innings in Yankee Stadium. Dusty Baker brings in Hector Neris to face Judge. Judge strikes out on a sinker in the dirt. Stanton then grounds out to Bregman as “Bronx cheers” are heard from Yankees fans.
Astros Making A Statement In New York
The New York fans may need some good comfort food, like the city’s famous pizza, the way this game is going. Yes, I had pizza for dinner. The Yankees bats must show life very quickly. Trevino does use his sinker to set up outs, and set down the Astros in order. Ron Darling on the TBS broadcast says Javier is the first starting pitcher to allow one hit or fewer to the Yankees in the postseason in five or more innings. Ryne Stanek continues the strong outings by the Astros relievers. Houston pitchers, after the three Ks by New York in the bottom of the seventh, now have struck the most batters through six games in postseason history. The broadcast says the Astros are now up to 78 batters fanned, 39 by the Yankees so far.
Astros Bullpen Continues Strong Work
Miguel Castro does fine work in the top of the eighth, striking out Tucker and Mancini, and getting Gurriel to fly out to Bader. Hunter Brown walks the first two, Donaldson and Cabrera, in the bottom of the eighth. For all the talk about the Astros great pitching they have walked five batters tonight. Brown gets to fly Trevino out to McCormick, and Rizzo lines out to Pena. Rafael Montero versus Judge feels like the Yankees last chance in this game. Judge gets jammed on a 95 MPH sinker in and grounds out, Bregman to Gurriel. New York is just 1-13, .076, with runners in scoring position in the series.
Yankees Will Face Elimination In Game 4
Most Yankees fans leave to pick up pizza, or some other dinner. Domingo German, who had not pitched in the postseason before now, is not giving those who have stayed much to cheer for, walking the first two hitters, McCormick and Vazquez. German comes back to get Altuve swinging, and Pena and Alvarez to fly out, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth.
Bryan Abreu enters the game to finish out the game. Matt Carpenter ensures that the Yankees will not be limited to just one hit in a postseason game for the first time ever. Bader follows with a single after him, but Donaldson strikes out to end the game. 41 K’s and 1-14 with runners in scoring position leave New York facing elimination in game four. Yankees bats have a ton of work to do to get their team back in the series.
Cortes Must Come Up Big For New York
Nestor Cortes now must help New York stave off elimination. Houston’s Lance McCullers takes the mound to try to make it four out of the last seven postseasons that the Astros took out the Yankees. The Fox Sports broadcast says the Yankees are hitting just .128 in the series. It feels worse for them, honestly. The conversation in New York could quickly turn to one Yankees fans do not want, whether Judge stays or goes next season.
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