Justin Verlander making his first home start of the season, was probably licking his chops entering play Monday evening.
The highest paid pitcher in baseball history, after inking a 2 year $66 million extension earlier this year, has dominated the Yankees since becoming an Astro in 2017. Verlander had faced the Yankees 4 times prior to Monday's start, going 3-0 with a 0.59 ERA 40 strikeouts, 2 walks and just 18 hits allowed in those games.
Monday evening was a bit of a tougher outing than he'd been used to, finding he and his team in a 3-1 hole after 6 innings of work. But the Astros, for the second straight day were able to put some quality at bats together and rally from behind, taking the first of their 3 game set with the Yankees, 4-3.
The Yankees got on the board first in the 3rd inning after Luke Voit singled to right with the bases loaded and one out, scoring Gio Urshela. Justin Verlander, laboring in the frame after yeilding a couple of walks to Urshela and Aaron Judge, got Gary Sanchez and Gleybar Torres on the next two pitches, needing 31 pitches in all to get out of the inning.
Verlander tossed 6 innings of 7 hit ball while surrendering all three Yankees runs, and struck out 6 in the 111-pitch no-decision.
Jose Altuve tied the game at one run apiece in the 4th with a monster solo shot off of Masahiro Tanaka, but Aaron Judge, who helped spark a rally in the 4th, took Verlander deep himself in the top of the fifth, hitting his 3rd home run of the season to deep right field, giving the Yankees a 2-1 lead.
The Astros rallied in the 7th, once the Yankees pulled Tanaka after just 78 pitches, Zach Britton came in to start the 7th for the Yankees, Correa began the inning for the Astros with a single to right, Yulie grounded into a fielders choice, forcing Correa out at second. Aledmys Diaz followed with a ground ball to second, advancing Gurriel. Tyler White worked a walk from Britton, setting the table for the right-hand hitting Robinson Chirinos.
Chirinos, a pull hitter, ripped a 1-1 sinker from Britton to deep right center field, scoring Correa and White, who slid into home sneaking his left hand onto the plate to just beat Gary Sanchez's tag, tying the score at 3 runs apiece.
Astros releiver Ryan Pressley pitched a clean 8th inning, and earned the win for the Astros, his first of the season.
Michael Brantley's single to right center put runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out against Yankee releiver Adam Ottavino, setting the table for a broken bat RBI infield single by Carlos Correa, scoring Alex Bregman, who worked a walk earlier in the frame, making it 4-3 Astros.
Jake Marisnick had a chance to add a little insurance, but struck out swinging with runners on 1st and 2nd.
Roberto Osuna came on for the 9th inning, and made quick work of the Yankees 9-1-2 hitters, earning his 3rd save of the season.
RHP Gerrit Cole (0-2, 3.00 ERA) makes his 3rd start of the season tomorrow opposite RHP Jonathan Loaisiga (0-0, 2.25 ERA).
Jose Altuve hit his 2nd HR of the season in the 4th. The monster shot to left field is the 2nd longest of his career (448').
Monday evening's broken bat go-ahead RBI in the 8th for Carlos Correa was his second game-winning RBI of the season.
Roberto Osuna is now 15-15 in save opportunities as an Astro.