The Houston Astros beat the New York Yankees 4-3

NEW YORK (AP) — Yordan Alvarez and Jon Singleton each hit long home runs in the first inning for the Houston Astros, who beat the New York Yankees 4-3 on Thursday night to avoid being swept in the series. the season.

Alvarez, who was 3 for 32 without a homer in his previous nine games Thursday, hit a two-out solo shot against Marcus Stroman (2-2) in the second deck in right field measured at 116, 8 mph.

“When he hit it, he looked into the dugout (like he was) going, ‘Hey, I’m coming,'” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “And we know it’s coming and we can’t wait for it to arrive.”

Alvarez helped lead the celebration into the dugout two batters later, when Singleton hit a two-run home run off the front along the third deck in right field, clocking in at 115.4 mph. It was only the ninth time in Stroman’s career that he allowed two homers in an inning.

“Stroman is a good pitcher, he usually stays out of the middle part of the plate,” Singleton said. “He made a throw up the middle and that’s all I could have hoped for.”

Television cameras captured Alvarez, wide-eyed, saying, “Whoa! as he leaned along the railing. Informed of Alvarez’s reaction, Singleton smiled.

“That means I did really well,” Singleton said.

The Astros are the first team in the Statcast era (2015-present) to hit two home runs measured at 115 mph off the bat in the same inning. Home runs have been the hardest hit balls against the Yankees this season.

Jeremy Peña had two hits, including an RBI single in the fifth inning, for the Astros, who were outscored 40-18 in the first six games this season — all losses — against the Yankees, whom they beat in the AL Championship Series in 2017, 2019 and 2022.

Houston, whose 13-24 start is tied for the fifth-worst record in franchise history through 37 games, has never been winless against an opponent in a season streak lasting more than six games. .

“It was a big victory for us,” Peña said. “We needed that and we’re going to try to build on that.”

Anthony Volpe hit a two-run homer off Ronel Blanco (4-0) in the third, while Aaron Judge hit a 473-foot solo shot clocked at 115.7 mph off the tee against Ryan Pressly in the eighth. According to Statcast, Thursday marks the first time three home runs measured at 115 mph or faster have been hit in the same game.

Josh Hader retired Anthony Rizzo to strand Alex Verdugo at first to end the eighth, then got around a leadoff single from Gleyber Torres in the ninth to earn his fourth save. It was the first time Hader recorded more than three takedowns during a stoppage since August 14, 2020.

Volpe had the Yankees’ only hit in 16 plate appearances with a runner on base.

“I loved the way the guys kept scratching,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Blanco allowed four hits and walked four with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. He threw a career-high 107 pitches — including 14 against Rizzo during a fourth inning at-bat in which the Yankees first baseman fouled off 10 straight pitches before whiffing an 86 mph changeup .

“My goal there was for him not to get on a clean pass,” Blanco said through an interpreter. “He was going to have to hit me right then and there.”

Stroman allowed four runs and a season-high nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.

“I can’t leave three in the first,” Stroman said. “I just feel like I’m not giving my team a chance when I do that.”

Minor move

The Yankees claimed RHP Colby White off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays and assigned him to Double-A Somerset. White, 25, has a 2.83 ERA in four seasons in the minor leagues, but was 0-2 with a 17.61 ERA in nine games at Triple-A Durham before being designated for an assignment last Friday. He was selected by the Rays in the sixth round of the 2019 draft.

Trainers’ room

Astros: Pressly, who was dealing with lower back soreness, pitched for the first time since last Friday. … RHP Jose Urquidy (right forearm) is expected to begin a rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Sugar Lake. Manager Joe Espada said Urquidy would throw 60 to 65 pitches. … RHP Cristian Javier (neck) will be removed from the injured list to start against the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.

Yankees: IF DJ LeMahieu (right foot) will continue to gain momentum this weekend, when he accompanies the team to Tampa Bay for a three-game series against the Rays. … OF Jasson Dominguez (Tommy John surgery) is expected to begin a rehabilitation assignment in the next two weeks.

Following

Astros: Continue a six-game road trip Friday night, when LHP Framber Valdez (1-1, 3.97 ERA) starts against the Tigers and RHP Casey Mize (1-1, 3.98 ERA). Valdez allowed seven runs in 10 1/3 innings in his first two starts since missing more than three weeks with left elbow soreness.

Yankees: Begin a six-game road trip Friday night, when RHP Clarke Schmidt (3-1, 3.50 ERA) faces Rays RHP Taj Bradley, who makes his season debut. Schmidt has allowed three runs or fewer in 32 starts dating to the start of 2023, the second most in the majors behind Sonny Gray (33).