Yankees 9, Astros 6: Oberholtzer implosion, close calls, and home runs

Brett Oberholtzer had been arguable pitching the best among Astros starters for the past few weeks. That was most definitely not the case on Saturday. It didn't help that home umpire Rob Drake had a tight zone on the inner part of the plate. Obe walked Chris Young and Alex Rodriguez to load the bases on back-to-back close calls on strikes.

Brian McCann made things worse, by depositing a pitch into the right field fence for a grand slam.

After giving up a second double to Brett Gardner in game, Obe served up his second home run of the game. Astro-killer and Houston's own Chris Young hit is second home run of the series -- putting the Yankees up 6-0. As Astros County pointed out, this is Chris Young's line at Minute Maid Park --  .407/.445/.769.

Oberholtzer let his frustration be known, he threw an obvious message pitch to Alex Rodriguez. Drake quickly ejected the Astros pitcher.

Roberto Hernandez stepped in to pitch, holding the Yankees scoreless for 3 2/3 innings.

As for the Astros offense, Domingo Santana, Chris Carter hit back-to-back doubles to get on the board. George Springer would single home Santana. Houston slowly chipped away at the Yankee lead.

Carter made 6-3 with a home run in the fourth. In the fifth, Carlos Correa connected for his fifth home run of the season with Springer on board. Jose Altuve snuck one behind the Crawford Boxes wall to tie the game at 6-6.

In the eighth, a tough call didn't go the Astros way. Chris Young grounded to Luis Valbuena, Valbuena fired to Altuve covering second. Gardner slide hard into the Astros second baseman, and the ball rattled out of Altuve's glove as attempted to transfer the ball.

Joe West called Altuve of the bag. He could have called the neighborhood play with Gardner bearing down on Altuve or even that Altuve dropped the ball before the transfer. But he called Altuve was off the bag, it was reviewed and upheld.

The Yankees would score two after getting the extra out, and another in the ninth with a home run from Chase Headley. But Houston wasn't able to answer.

The Astros took tie the series with Collin McHugh on the mound at 1:10 p.m. CT.