Yankees comeback falls short as they get swept in Houston

The Yankees looked to avoid the sweep following abysmal performances by the bullpen in the first two games. The Yanks fell flat in the last game of the series, with a final score of 8-6. Paxton was unable to control the Astros’ offense, as he allowed five earned runs over four innings. The offense looked completely overmatched by Astros starter Collin McHugh, who struck out nine through six innings. The Yankees’ rally late in the game was not enough to complete the comeback.

Photo Credit: Michael Wyke | AP Photo

Brett Gardner got the Yankees on the scoreboard first with a leadoff home run off of Collin McHugh, his second of the season.

In the bottom of the first, Jose Altuve continued his hot hitting against Yankee pitching, lining his third home run in as many games, to tie the score at one. Later in the inning, Yuli Gurriel ripped an RBI triple to center field, which was misplayed by Gardner, driving in Carlos Correa, to take a 2-1 lead.

Carlos Correa helped Houston extend their lead in the bottom of the third, driving an RBI double to right field, bringing in Michael Brantley. Austin Romine bailed Paxton out of a jam, catching Gurriel leaning off of first base after a pitch in the dirt, ending the Houston rally.

Gleyber Torres lead off the top of the 4th with a double down the left field line. Greg Bird followed that up with a single, which set up a D.J. LeMahieu sac fly to get the Yankees within one.

On the first pitch of the bottom of the fifth from Paxton, Jose Altuve took the left-hander deep to left for his second of the game. After letting up a Brantley single, Paxton was pulled from the game at 95 pitches, with Tommy Kahnle coming in for relief. Correa, the first batter Kahnle faced, launched a two-run home run to left, extending their lead to 6-2. After allowing two more base runners, Jake Marisnick singled to center, driving in Aledmys Diaz, which ended Kahnle’s night. Joe Harvey, who the Yankees just called up to the big leagues earlier today, relieved Kahnle and struck out George Springer to end the disastrous inning.

The Yanks tried to mount a rally in the seventh, with LeMahieu and Tyler Wade each getting on base, but they were not able to close the gap.

Harvey looked sharp in his major league debut, striking out three batters, walking one and allowing one hit in two innings.

In the top of the 8th inning, Luke Voit roped a two-run home run to left field off of Josh James, driving in Aaron Judge for his fourth of the season, cutting the Astros lead to three. Gleyber Torres and Greg Bird followed by reaching base safely. After Hector Rendon relieved James, LeMahieu ripped an RBI double down the right field line to drive in Torres. Clint Frazier went on to bring in Bird on a sac-fly to right field, bringing the Yankees within one run. Ryan Pressly was brought in to face pinch-hitter Gary Sanchez with two outs and LeMahieu on third. Pressly struck out Sanchez which abruptly ended the Yankees rally.

Zack Britton was brought into pitch the bottom of the 8th, where he allowed a leadoff infield single to Marisnick, who advanced to second on a throwing error by Torres. Springer then drove him in with an RBI single, giving Houston a two run cushion. Britton worked himself into and out of a bases loaded jam, escaping the inning allowing only one run.

The Yankees were unable to get the job done against Pressly as he completed the save in the 9th, as Judge was the only Yankee able to reach base in the inning.

Written by: Bobby Jenkins

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