Astros lose fifth straight. Bronx Bombers win slugfest 10-6

There were good things about this fifth straight loss, this one against the New York #@!%in Yankees.

If the object of the game was just to hit home runs the game would have been tied 4-4. If the object of the game was just to get hits it would have been tied 12-12. If you didn’t count the Yankees six run fourth inning the Astros would have won. The Astros scored just one less run in this game than they did in the entire series against the Reds. One of the five Astros pitchers (Hector Rondon struck out the side in the sixth) actually managed to not allow a run. Jake Marisnick hit two home runs. Jordan Alvarez hit his 5th home run and a double. Alex Bregman got his 21st home run. Jose Altuve got a single. The Astros rallied in the ninth and made Aroldis Chapman get the last out. The Astros managed to lose by only four runs.

Here are the Astros highlights.

Alvarez’ home run was hit at 113.2 MPH

Here is Marisnick’s first homer followed by Bregman’s jack.

Actually, through the first three innings this game looked like it was going to be like the low scoring affairs in Cincinnati. Neither team had a run. Starter Framber Valdez seemed to have a hex on the Yankees, but then, second time through the order, the voodoo ended. He allowed a solo homer to Gary Sanchez, followed by a three run homer to Glayber Torres, and then Chris Devenski, in for Valdez, allowed a two run D. J. LeMahieu homer, one run charged to Valdez.

Former Astro, bearer of a World Series ring, and the man who got free tacos for millions of hungry Americans, Cameron Maybin, doubled in two runs in the fifth, wrecking Josh James’ night. In the seventh the Yankees scored two more runs with an Edwin Encarnacion homer, this one off Rogelio Armenteros.

(The Astros tried to get Encarnacion from the Mariners in a trade, but the Yankees coughed up more money. That’s why everyone hates the Yankees.)

The Astros entered the ninth inning down 10-4, but managed to give the game a touch of suspense at the end. Marisnick led off with his second homer, a 400 foot shot. Alex Bregman walked, Jose Altuve hit into a fielders’ choice, and then scored on a Yordan Alvarez double to left which Cameron Maybin should have caught. Yuli Gurriel advanced Alvarez to third with a single, which made Yankees manager Aaron Boone nervous enough to bring in uber closer Aroldis Chapman. Chapman got Josh Reddick to fly out to end the game.

Give the Astros credit for fighting until the end. I figured by the fourth inning that this was going to be another Tyler White in to pitch eephuses game.

More excitement tomorrow. Brad Peacock faces our old nemesis from Seattle, James Paxton.

Game time 6:05 CDT

Box score and videos HERE.