Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
BRONX, NY — Yankees fans gave a Bronx cheer Tuesday evening to Astros’ José Altuve when he approached the plate in the first inning that extorted around Yankee Stadium with no forgiveness from that sign stealing scandal championship team years ago.
Altuve is still here though not many others from the 2017 World Series championship roster are as the Yankees and Astros have history on the field, with Houston winning all four postseason series they have played.
The Astros have eliminated the Yankees in all four of their postseason matchups all-time—2022 ALCS (4-0), 2019 ALCS (4-2), 2017 ALCS (4-3) AND 2015 AL Wild Card (3-0) – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
However, move forward. The Yankees (74-57), vying for another postseason run and chasing the American League East leading Rays (78-54).
The Astros (66-66), in a mediocre AL West, vying for playoff position in their division and Wild Card.
The start of a three-game series is significant because it’s that time of year in baseball going down the stretch.
The talk in New York this week will be about the Astros vs. Yankees and their history on the diamond with Houston in town for a three game set in the Bronx followed by this weekend for three in Queens vs. the Mets – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Tuesday night in the Bronx in front of a loud crowd resembled and had a playoff atmosphere, with home runs that figured in the outcome and Houston winning the opener, 9-7.
Bullpens were a factor also and the Yankees’ ‘pen that has been efficient, gave up six late runs on Fernando Cruz (2 earned runs) and the untouchable Brent Headrick (3 ERs) who succumbed to allowing a go-ahead triple to Yordan Álvarez (3-5, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored) in the eighth inning.
2022 AL LatinoMVP Yordan Álvarez is slashing .328/.396/.634 (44-for-134) with 24R, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 11HR, 23RBI vs. the Yankees in his career over 36 games – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
This was a Yankees bullpen that had surrendered four earned runs in 29 ⅓ innings and led the Majors with a 2.44 ERA since June 3rd. But still, manager Aaron Boone with tons of bullpen decisions and usage over the summer, leads to a concern for the pinstripes down the stretch.
“They beat our guys tonight so you’ve got to give them credit there,” he said. “They got us slug for slug, we kept answering for the most part but they just did a little bit more offensively tonight.”
Aaron Boone and the Yankees have a big week in store in the Bronx with the Astros in town for three games and then the Red Sox this weekend for a four-game set – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Boone did not elaborate on the bullpen, except for Cruz who threw a four-seamer down the middle in the sixth that Jeremy Peña smacked for a game-tying two-run homer in the sixth. For the Yankees’ ‘pen to continue their efficient late inning attack, Cruz needs to be effective. He has allowed 11 runs of which nine are earned in 14 2/3 innings, and is 0-3 with a 5.52 ERA since the All-Star break.
Boone said about Cruz: “He has to be part of the equation. We will still need him to get big outs for us. Tonight they got him when he fell behind.”
Since the All-Star break across 14 2/3, Fernando Cruz has posted 5.52 ERA with 11 runs allowed, nine of them earned – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
And in a series that has significance, the Yankees will need more depth from their starters. Will Warren allowed three runs over five innings and two runs were earned. The bullpen in baseball terms is taxed and unless there are some reinforcements waiting at Triple-A Scranton, this could amount to an issue the Yankees can’t afford.
The good news, the Yankees are swinging again. Consistent contact (10 hits) and home run production (two). The trade acquisition of Luis García Jr. (4-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI) helps, recording a four-hit night with two singles and two-run homer in the fifth, his 27th of the season and fourth as a Yankee.
Luis García Jr. recorded five RBI over his last three games (since 8/22) and six RBI over his last five games (since 8/20) with his latest performance at the plate coming Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Yanier Díaz (3-4, 2 HRs, 1 BB) had a multi-home run game and Josh Hader, with four-outs and a K, secured his 19th save. The Astros began their week-long stay in New York signifying they are not mediocre and will return to the postseason.
After another two in the Bronx, they head across town Friday to meet the Mets in a three-game series.
In Tuesday’s series opener between the Astros and Yankees at Yankee Stadium, 2023 AL LatinoMVP Rookie of the Year Yainer Díaz recorded his third career multi-home run game and first of the season after hitting a go-ahead solo shot in the second inning and a game-tying solo home run in the eighth inning – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
“This is the way we need to come here and play today,” said manager Joe Espada. “And any other way wasn’t going to be acceptable. We needed to come here today and play like a team that is hunting to win a division and we did.”
He added: “I felt with the way the game was going it was back and forth. We got punched, we punched them back, and we got punched again and we retaliated.”
Peña went 2-for-5, had RBI and runs scored, two each and the home run was his 15th on the year, third-career at Yankee Stadium.
“We’ve got to keep pushing,” Peña said. “This is the final stretch. Every game means so much, especially to our ballclub. We’ve got to treat every game like it’s a playoff game. We’ve got to show up and do the little things right. Move the runner, get them in, play good defense, good pitching and win some ballgames.”
Jeremy Peña hit his 15th home run of the season with a game-tying two-run shot in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s 9-7 win in the Bronx – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
The Yankees, though, sustained a setback and expect to rebound Wednesday night at the same place and same time.
Regardless, it’s two teams with a history and again aiming for the postseason, chances of another October clash will be determined.
Though in the end, bullpens will decide an outcome.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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