That’s ???????? Ks over 7 strong frames for #BIGMike!
Final line: 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 Ks. pic.twitter.com/De6nukFgpG
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 26, 2016
The New York Yankees finally overcame a nemesis named Dallas Keuchel in the series opener from Houston.
- New York Yankees: 2 (51-48)
- Houston Astros: 1 (54-45)
- American League, FINAL, Box Score
- Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
The New York Yankees are making every possible attempt to stave off an overhaul which would be detrimental to the team’s 2016 chances. On a day that witnessed the departure of Aroldis Chapman for Chicago, the Yanks pulled out yet another hard-fought win against a formidable opponent.
In fact, they were able to edge an opposing pitcher in Dallas Keuchel who has given them nightmares over the past year and a half.
Michael Pineda was dominant on the mound for New York, Austin Romine connected on a clutch eighth inning RBI double, and the dynamic duo — which still exists, by the way — came on to slam the door. A formula capable of yielding just as much, if not more, success for the remainder of the campaign improved the Yankees to a season-high watermark of three games over .500.
Not only did the Bombers move a game closer to the Astros, but they knotted themselves with the Detroit Tigers — who sit in third place — in the wild card standings.
A nitty gritty win for the Yanks improved them to 7-2 since July 17, good for the best mark in the bigs. Over a larger span, they are 25-18 since June 6 which translates to a 94-win pace.
Highlights
On the first pitch Pineda delivered in the bottom of the first, George Springer homered to the opposite field to give the Astros an early 1-0 edge.
Nothing like a #SpringerDinger to start the night. https://t.co/dBUQoeMan4 pic.twitter.com/5CpVT5bn3J
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 26, 2016
The score would remain that way as the offense was punchless against the left-hander until the fifth. In that frame, Chase Headley blooped an RBI single to center field which scored Didi Gregorius to tie the game at one.
Headley gets the job done!
His RBI single scores @DidiG18 and this game is all tied up at 1 in the 5th! ??
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 26, 2016
In a deadlock at one a piece, Michael Pineda found his groove. The right-hander — who possesses a solid 3.57 ERA since the start of June — struck out five over his final three innings to finish the night with eight punch outs.
That’s 3⃣ up, 3⃣ down for Pineda in the 5th! #Yankees are back at the plate in Houston. pic.twitter.com/jLRIWsptxb
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 26, 2016
The same was the case with Keuchel, who was crushing up until an eighth inning that would ultimately leave him with a loss. Following a Headley single, Austin Romine stepped up and smashed an RBI double to the left-center field track to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead.
Goodbye, tie!! ?
Austin Romine comes through with an RBI double in the 8th to score Headley and the #Yankees take a 2-1 lead!!
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 26, 2016
Coming on immediately was the tandem of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, a duo good enough to anchor a 2015 playoff berth. Although Miller put two runners on in the ninth, he induced a game-ending 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Carlos Gomez to put the icing on the cake.
#StartSpreadingTheNews! #Yankees take the first game in Houston, 2-1! pic.twitter.com/2xmwUkU4c6
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 26, 2016
Today we spell redemption 6-4-3. Ballgame over, Yankees win. They’re three over .500, and 1-0 in the post-Aroldis era.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) July 26, 2016
For the first time in 2016, the Yankees are three games over .500. Not a great night for #TeamSell. A big night for #TeamBuy.
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) July 26, 2016
Starting Staff On A Tear
The recent torrent stretch the Yankees have put themselves on is a direct result of stellar starting pitching. That stretch continued tonight when Michael Pineda allowed a mere five hits and one run while fanning eight over seven strong frames.
Yankees have allowed 14 runs in last 9 games combined, their fewest allowed in any 9-game span since July 1998.
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) July 26, 2016
Not only did he fill the vacated inning which Aroldis Chapman left behind on his trip to the Windy City, but he gave the team continuous chances to break ahead and eventually come out victorious.
Yankee starters last 9 games: 6-1, 1.75 ERA, .212 BAA
— Jeff Quagliata (@yestoresearch) July 26, 2016
No-Runs DM
No Chapman? No problem. There may not be a fancy nickname involved, but Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller have more than enough experience closing games side-by-side.
.@DBetances68 DEALING – 3 straight Ks in the 8th! #Yankees hold a 2-1 lead! pic.twitter.com/e5KNKIxuJP
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 26, 2016
Betances struck out the side in a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and Miller — a man who saved 36 games last year — worked out of trouble in the ninth to seal the deal.
Yankees are 17-9 in 1-run games, 2nd best record in MLB
— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) July 26, 2016
What’s Next?
The Yankees and Astros will battle it out in the middle game of this three-game set tomorrow night.
CC Sabathia (5-8, 4.04 ERA) will take the ball for New York opposing Doug Fister (10-6, 3.42 ERA), who will be on the bump for Houston.
First pitch will commence at 8:10 pm ET from Minute Maid Park. The game can be seen on YES and heard on WFAN 660/101.9 FM.