Astros avoid season sweep, use long HR to trip Yanks | The Arkansas Democratic Gazette

NEW YORK — 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 season series.

Alvarez, who was 3 for 32 without a home run in his previous nine games Thursday, hit a two-out homer off Marcus Stroman (2-2) into the second deck in right field measured at 116.8 mph.

“When he hit him, he looked into the dugout (like he was) going, ‘Hey, I’m coming,'” https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/may /10/astros-avoid-season-sweep-use-long-hours-for-travel/,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “And we know he’s coming and we can’t wait for him to arrive here.”

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 Pena had two hits, including an RBI single in the fifth inning, for the Astros, who were outscored 40-18 in the first six games of the 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 win for us,” Pena 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 homer clocked at 115.7 mph off the bat 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 4 hits and walked 4 with 5 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 4 runs and a game-high 9 hits in 5 1/3 innings.

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

Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros is congratulated after scoring against the New York Yankees in the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 9, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Anthony Volpe of the New York Yankees, left, celebrates with Juan Soto after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in New York . (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros in the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 9, 2024, in New York. The Astros won 4-3. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Anthony Volpe of the New York Yankees runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco gestures as he leaves during the sixth inning of the team’s baseball game against the New York Yankees, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Luke Weaver of the New York Yankees throws during the sixth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Houston Astros, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Anthony Volpe of the New York Yankees runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Ronel Blanco of the Houston Astros throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Marcus Stroman of the New York Yankees throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)