Astros Suffer 2nd Extra Inning Loss in 3 Days. Fall to Yankees 6-5

In New York, no doubt, this is a story about a heroic Yankee comeback. Here in Houston, it is a story about how the Astros let one get away.

First, the pitching. The Astros had one of this year’s best pitchers in all MLB, unbeaten Charlie Morton, going against the struggling of late C.C. Sabathia.

Secondly, the fielding. The Yankees gift wrapped 5 errors for the Astros in a pretty little bow. So how could a World Champion lose to a struggling pitcher who has little league fielding support? (OK I exaggerate)

For one, you hit 3-17 with RISP.

For another, in the bottom of the ninth, your closer Chris Devenski, walks the first batter, and then with two outs allows a game tying home run.

Then, in the top of the tenth, one of your best base runners gets thrown out at third on a wild pitch that hits off the backstop and bounces directly into the catcher;s mitt. He throws in plenty of time to easily throw out the advancing runner for out three.

Then, in the bottom of the tenth, your new reliever, Brad Peacock, gets two outs, then surrenders a double, and then gives up a walk off single to rookie Gleyber Torres.

So how do you lose a game like this? You don’t make clutch hits. You give up clutch hits. Easy.

In this critique my apologies to Marwin Gonzalez and Evan Gattis. Gonzalez had two hits and two RBI, and the red hot Gattis had another home run, his fourth in a week.

And credit goes to the lead off hitter for the Yankees, Brett Gardner, who started the Yankees scoring with a home run in the first, and then tied the game with a two run homer in the ninth.. And, of course, Aaron Judge, who added a double and a home run of his own.

The Astros have lost three of their last four games. And although Justin Verlander showed good results last night, in truth all the starting pitchers in those games have had sub par performances by the high standards set by the staff before this week. Regression was inevitable, but it’s still a bitch.