New York Yankees 0 – Houston Astros 4
The Yankees ran into an ace to open the series in Houston.
Through the first two innings against the Astros’ Dallas Keuchel, five of the six outs were on strikeouts and three went down with the bat on their shoulder.
Not the way to start a game against a great pitcher. In the second inning, Adam Warren surrendered the first run of the game.
After a near miss on a home run to right field, going foul, Luis Valbuena was hit by a pitch to get on to start the game. After the next two outs were recorded, Preston Tucker hit a line drive to left field where the runner from first came around to score.
Through the first four innings, the Yankees managed just four hits, one in each inning. The Astros added a second run on a fly out that was followed with a rundown double play.
On his way to 15 consecutive outs in a row, Dallas Keuchel struck out the side in the sixth inning. Following the hitless inning, the Astros added an insurance run in the bottom half. After retiring the first batter, Jose Altuve reached on an infield single. He stole second base and advanced on the throwing error by John Ryan Murphy when the throw went just wide of second base. Adam Warren got the second out of the inning but Evan Gattis followed with a single to center that scored the Astros third run of the game and the second run scored by the vertically challenged second baseman.
In 5 2/3 innings, Adam Warren allowed three runs on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Not a bad line but his opposing starting pitcher was just better.
The Astros scored one run against the Yankees’ Chris Capuano in his 2 1/3 innings of work but the one run in the second inning would be enough for the dominant Keuchel.
After Dallas Keuchel retired the first two outs of the ninth inning, including his career-high 12th strikeout, he started running into trouble. The trouble started when Alex Rodriguez laced a single into left center field. Mark Teixeira reached base on four straight balls. Keuchel fell behind Beltran 3-0 before the Yankees’ right fielder lined a ball by third base to load the bases and bring the tying run up. Unfortunately the Yankees last hope came in the form of Jose Pirela. With Gardner and McCann sitting on the bench, the Yankees utility man, “playing” left field tonight, grounded out to finish off the complete game shutout by Keuchel.
In nine innings, Dallas Keuchel struck out a career-high 12 while scattering six hits and walking one.
Win – Dallas Keuchel (9-3)
Loss – Adam Warren (5-5)
Notables
Yankees
*Chris Young – 2 for 4
*Carlos Beltran – 2 for 4
Astros
*Jose Altuve – 3 for 4, 3 R, 2 2B
*Evan Gattis – 2 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI (45)
Current Yankees Record: 39-34
