Yankees 2, Astros 3: Just one of those games

For a lot of this game, the Yankees looked a lot like they did in the 2015 AL Wild Card Game. They allowed three runs, and struggled finding any sort of answer. Considering they were facing the same pitcher, maybe that really shouldn’t be that surprising. Dallas Keuchel held the Yankees to just one run in six innings as he shutdown the Yankees once again.

Then in the ninth inning, the Yankees finally capitalized on a chance to tie the game. Gary Sanchez singled with two runners in scoring position and the Yankees down two. One of those runs scored. The other did not.

The potential game-tying runner Jacoby Ellsbury was thrown out at home for the final out of the game. The Yankees came close to another ninth inning rally, but this one fell just short as they lost 3-2.

The Astros struck early, taking the lead in the top of the first. After a bloop double by Josh Reddick fell in, Carlos Correa took a Michael Pineda pitch over the wall in right.

In the fifth inning, Houston added to their lead. With one out in the inning, Alex Bregman doubled. Nori Aoki then grounded one back to the mound, and Pineda made a nice play to get Bregman out at third. Despite that, Aoki went on to just go and steal second, and score on a George Springer single.

Other than the three runs, Pineda had another fairly solid outing. He allowed the three runs on six hits and one walk, and struck out seven in his 6.2 innings.

Through the first four innings, the Yankees had only mustered two hits and really hadn’t threatened to score. They finally did in the fifth inning thanks to some weirdness. Chase Headley reached after Astros’ first baseman Yuli Gurriel couldn’t complete a catch on a grounder thrown to first. The Yankees then loaded the bases when Didi Gregorius singled and Aaron Hicks walked. A Chris Carter strike out left the inning up to Ellsbury.

Former Yankee Brian McCann couldn’t avoid the Ellsbury catcher’s interference trap. Naturally, McCann’s glove got in the way on Ellsbury’s swing, allowing Headley to score. The bases were still loaded, but the Yankees couldn’t add more, which was a theme.

The Yankees had their chances to cut in the deficit more, but they kept on wasting chances. They put two on with nobody out in the sixth, but then Keuchel struck out the side. Aaron Judge walked and got into scoring position in the eighth, but again the Yankees couldn’t do anything with that.

Then in the ninth, Hicks drew a walk and Ellsbury singled, bringing the winning run to the plate. After Ellsbury stole second, Sanchez punched one through scoring Hicks as Ellsbury was waved home too. However, Jake Marisnick made a nice throw home as McCann tagged out Ellsbury.

The Yankees came extremely close to another improbable comeback. Just not close enough.