It has been over a year since Major League Baseball confirmed the allegations of the Houston Astros stealing signs throughout the 2017 and 2018 seasons. In their 2017 World Series campaign, the Astros defeated the New York Yankees in the ALCS. This is also a time when the Astros were using their sign-stealing mechanism, making Tuesday’s matchup in New York one of the most highly anticipated games of the 2021 MLB season.
The Astros were welcomed to Yankee Stadium by a series of boos and negative chants. Yankees fans, however, got what they wanted with a 7-3 victory over Houston. Astros All-Stars Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa both went hitless against the Yankees pitching staff, and Starting Pitcher Zach Greinke only lasted 4 innings, giving up 3 earned runs on 3 hits and walking 4 batters.
Domingo Germán would get the start for the Yankees, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits through 5 innings. Yankee Reliever Lucas Luetege would get the win after relieving Germán, improving his record to 2-0 on the season.
Houston would take an early lead after a solo homerun by third-baseman Alex Bregman in the top of the 1st inning, but the Bronx Bombers were quick to respond. Designated Hitter Giancarlo Stanton smashed a two-run homerun in the bottom half of the 1st, followed by a double-play that scored Right-Fielder Aaron Judge, gave the Yankees a 3-1 lead after 1 inning of play.
Houston would not lead for the rest of the game. A Michael Brantley solo homerun and a double from First Baseman Yuli Gurriel would tie the game at 3-3 in the 4th inning, but a 4-run surge from the Yankees in the 6th would finish the job.
One Error, Three Runs, and Two Injuries
A bouncing groundball by Yankees First Baseman D.J LeMahieu in the 6th inning would lead to an extremely bizarre turn of events for both teams. The bases were loaded with two outs when LeMahieu hit a short groundball to Bregman, whose throw got by Gurriel, allowing two runs to score. Gurriel’s throw home would lead to a collision between Yankee second baseman Rougned Odor and Astros Catcher Martín Maldonado. Although Odor’s run counted, both players left the game with injuries and would not return.
Up Next
The Yankees will look to continue their 4-game win streak in their next two games against the Astros, followed by another 3-game home series against the Washington Nationals, before traveling to Tampa to take on the Rays.
After their New York trip, the Astros will begin a 10-game homestand with a series against the Toronto Blue Jays, followed by the Los Angeles Angels, and finishing with a 4-game series against the Texas Rangers.
