Astros drop season-opener against Yankees 5-4 at Minute Maid Park

The Astros had plenty of chances to win their season-opener against the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park.

Houston held a 4-0 lead after two innings and through the fourth, before the Yankees started their rally. After the Yankees took the lead, Houston had multiple chances to regain it.

Instead, the Yankees pulled away Thursday with a 5-4 lead over the Astros. The Yankees' win was punctuated by a throw to home plate from right field by Juan Soto, New York's big-time trade acquisition from the offseason.

It was the bottom of the ninth when Mauricio Dubon led off wit a single to right field. After Jose Altuve lined out to second base, Yordan Alvarez reached on an infield single, allowing Dubon to move to second base.

Kyle Tucker followed up with a single to right, but Soto threw a dart to catcher Jose Trevino, who tagged Dubon as he was sliding home. The call was upheld on review, leaving the Astros down to their final out.

But that was just one of several missed opportunities by the Astros. Their ace Framber Valdez dealt with traffic for much of his outing, but it unraveled a bit in the fifth inning.

He walked Trevino to start the frame, gave up an infield single to Oswaldo Cabrera before another walk to Gleyber Torres. That's when Soto singled to score Trevino. Then Valdez hit Anthony Rizzo to score a run. Seth Martinez was brought in for Valdez, but he promptly walked Anthony Volpe to score another run.

In the sixth inning, Rafael Montero gave up a solo home run to Cabrera, which tied the game. In the bottom half, the Astros were able to get a couple of two-out singles from Yainer Diaz and Jeremy Peña.

Astros first-year manager Joe Espada decided to pinch-hit Jon Singleton for Jake Meyers, who had homered for Houston earlier in the game. Singleton softly grounded out to the pitcher and that was that.

Ryan Pressly pitched the seventh inning, but gave up a pair of hits and a walk. It allowed Alex Verdugo to score Aaron Judge on a sacrifice fly to take the decisive lead.