The New York Yankees entered Thursday’s series finale against the Houston Astros riding an offensive surge, but their bats went quiet in a 5-1 loss at Yankee Stadium that cost them the three-game series.
After scoring 24 runs over their previous three games, the Yankees managed just five hits against four Houston pitchers and finished 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The loss dropped New York to 75-58 as the Astros took two of three.
Gerrit Cole turned in a solid outing, but the Yankees could not provide enough support. The right-hander allowed three runs on six hits over six innings, striking out five and walking one.
Houston opened the scoring in the third when Jeremy Peña scored from first base on an Isaac Paredes single. Cole kept the deficit at one until the sixth, when he issued a two-out walk to Daulton Varsho before Christian Walker followed with a two-run home run to make it 3-0.
The Yankees finally broke through in the bottom half of the inning. Ben Rice doubled to begin the frame, advanced to third on a Luis GarcÃa Jr. flyout and scored on Cody Bellinger’s sacrifice fly. George Lombard Jr. followed with the first triple of his career, but New York could not bring him home.
Houston added a solo home run from Peña in the seventh before extending its lead in the eighth on a bizarre defensive sequence involving Lombard and José Caballero.
Lombard mishandled a ground ball before Caballero’s throw to first sailed wide, allowing Walker to score. Lombard has now committed an error in six consecutive games.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole two bases and continued his recent hot stretch despite seeing his streak of seven consecutive plate appearances reaching base come to an end.
The Yankees will now turn their attention to a crucial four-game series against the Boston Red Sox beginning Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Cam Schlittler will start for New York against Patrick Sandoval.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.