Yankees 6, Astros 3: CC Sabathia solid as Yankees win third straight

After his pretty good start to the season, CC Sabathia was looking like his 2013-15 self as of late. However, at least for tonight, he changed things. Sabathia threw 6.2 solid innings, allowing just two runs. The Yankees offense had a decent night themselves, as the Yankees came away with a 6-3 win.

Just like last night, the Astros took the lead pretty quickly in the first. This time, Houston’s second batter of the game, Marwin Gonzalez, hit a solo home run, putting the Astros up early.

The Yankees struck back in the top of the second. Brian McCann led off with a single, and moved to third on Mark Teixeira’s double. Didi Gregorius followed that with a fly out to left, but it was deep enough for McCann to tag up and score. Starlin Casto and Chase Headley then each hit a single, the second of which scored Teixeira to give the Yankees the lead.

In the third inning, the Yankees added to their lead. Carlos Beltran led off the inning with a single. After McCann flew out, Teixeira walked, with Beltran moving up a base on a wild pitch. Gregorius then grounded into a force out at second, moving Beltran to third. Castro would then reach on an infield single, scoring Beltran. That made it 3-1.

The Yankees then tacked on more in the fifth. McCann reached again after being hit by a pitch. Teixeira followed that with a single. After a Gregorius ground out moved the runners up a base, Castro was intentionally walked to load the bases. A Headley sacrifice fly brought home one run, but an Aaron Hicks triple scored two. That put the Yankees up 6-1.

Following the first inning home run, Sabathia pitched fairly solidly. He got into a couple jams, but he managed to work his way out of them. However, in the seventh inning, the Astros did manage to cut into the Yankees’ lead. Evan Gattis hit a long home run off Sabathia. However, it was only a solo homer, and made it 6-2. Sabathia then got two outs before allowing a single to Carlos Gomez. That would be the end of Sabathia’s day. Sabathia pitched 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. Anthony Swarzak came in and got Preston Tucker to strike out to end the seventh.

In the eighth, Gonzalez hit his second home run of the game. After striking out Altuve for the second out of the inning, Swarzak walked Carlos Correa, causing Joe Girardi to bring in Dellin Betances. The first batter Betances faced was Evan Gattis, who he walked. He then also walked Alex Bregman, loading the bases. However, Betances would get Jason Castro to strike out to end the inning, preserving a three-run lead.

Andrew Miller would finish things off fairly easily in the ninth. The Yankees won 6-3, taking their third straight game and the series in Houston.

The Yankees will go for the series sweep tomorrow night. Masahiro Tanaka will get the start.

Box score.