HOUSTON — The Astros grabbed an early lead over the Yankees in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader with the help of a pair of singles to start the game. They flexed a little more muscle early on to take control of Game 2.
Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman hit back-to-back homers in the first inning off Yankees starter Domingo Germán and Chas McCormick added key homers with a two-run homer in the sixth inning to send the Astros to a 7-5 victory and a sweep of the doubleheader at Minute Maid Park.
“Our pitching staff did a great job today of keeping us in the ballgame, and they pitched really well to get us ahead,” Bregman said. “McCormick’s insurance proved to be huge later in the game. We did a good job swinging the bat today. Obviously, three days without playing [for the All-Star break]there’s a little bit of rust, but we’ll come back tomorrow and hit the ground running.”
By beating the Yankees for the fifth time in seven meetings this season, the Astros moved to within 2 1/2 games of the Bronx Bombers for the best record in the American League. They also opened a 10-game lead atop the AL West over the Mariners, who will put their 14-game winning streak on the line Friday in the series opener against the Astros in Seattle.
“I think we played good baseball today,” Bregman said. “We land pretty late [Thursday night]so hopefully we can sleep very well and then [Friday] comes back ready to go, shows up there ready to compete and ready to fight.”
Right-hander Brandon Bielak, called up for the 27th for the doubleheader, pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief before Aaron Judge hit a three-run homer in the ninth to close the gap. With the tension building, Rafael Montero, who pitched a scoreless eighth in Game 1, got Matt Carpenter to ground into a game-ending double play.
“You don’t see too many guys come out and pitch in both games of a doubleheader,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “We were trying to get away from that when the day started. … He said he was fine, he felt good and Bielak ate some quality innings against a quality team.”
Alvarez was activated from the disabled list before Game 1 and drew an intentional walk as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning before hitting his 27th homer in his first at-bat of the day in Game 2. He added a two-run double. in the second inning, giving him 63 RBIs.
“Nice swings and it’s amazing to watch,” Bregman said. “He’s been amazing this year and we’re definitely lucky to have him on this team.”