Last night the New York Yankees met the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium for the first time since 2019 and the first time since they were found to cheat in the 2017 season by an investigation by MLB. The Yankees fans at the Stadium showed their displeasure. Domingo German started the game for the Yankees and pitched well. The hitters did their job hitting nine hits, and the Yankees bullpen, as usual, was outstanding. Several times during the game, the Yankee fans chanted Jose Altuve showing their hatred for the little person Astro player. The Yankees won the game 7-3.
Big game feel, and fully engaged fans
The game last night was extraordinary. The first time the Yankee fans in attendance at Yankee Stadium got to show the Astros how they felt about them possibly stealing a World Series appearance from them. For the first inning, it seemed not a single fan remained seated. When Jose Altuve approached the plate to lead off the first inning, the crowd of 10,800 made the most noise I have heard at the Stadium this season. Most of those loud boos were for Jose Altuve that may have cost Aaron Judge a Rookie of the Year Award and an MVP award.
The MLB found after an investigation that the Houston Astros cheated during the 2017 season and postseason, which may have cost the Yankees a trip to the World Series. Yes, A.J. Hinch and Alex Cora lost their jobs for a year. Both are now in other managing jobs. The Yankees’ issue is that they did not lose their Championship win or their rings even though they cheated. MLB punished no player. The Yankees will never forget this, and the Astros will always be known as the team that cheated their way to a World Series win.
I must note that the New York Yankees fans showed class; they booed and showed signs saying things like you cheated and big X’s on their championship, they remained civil and showed the class you would expect from a New York Yankee fan. That being said, Altuve took the brunt of the fan’s scorn. Several Yankees players said after the game that it has a “playoff feel.”
The Yankee starting pitching was good, not great
The New York Yankees starting pitcher was Domingo German coming off a seven-inning stint where he went 7 scoreless innings, he was not great in this one, but he did keep the Yankees in the game. He gave up three runs in five innings of work, striking out six Astros while walking only one. But as in most games this season, the Yankee bullpen, the best in baseball, came to his rescue.
The New York Yankee bullpen went four scoreless innings saving the Yankees from the possible loss. Lucas Luetge came in in the sixth inning and pitched a scoreless sixth. The Yankees thanked him by scoring four more runs in the bottom of the inning, giving him the win. Jonathan Loaisgia and Wandy Peralta pitched two scoreless innings, and Chad Green came in to close it out for the Yankees by striking out 2 Astros in the ninth.
Giancarlo Stanton is on a tear
Giancarlo Stanton has been nothing short of fantastic in recent days. Last night he went 4 for 5 with a monster home run in the bottom of the first inning. In just a few short games, he has taken himself from the interstate to a batting average of .297. He has now completed his 10th straight game with a hit. He now shares most home runs (7) and most RBI’s (18) with New York Yankee slugger Aaron Judge. Stanton does have more hits than Judge and a higher batting average.
The Yankees will meet up with the Astros again tonight when Jordan Montgomery will face the Astros’ Luis Garcia, 3-0. The finale will be a matinee that will feature the Yankee ace Gerrit Cole facing his old team. The game will be broadcast on the YES Network and ATT Sports Net SW.