New York Yankees vs Houston Astros Match Player Stats On Jul 01, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jul 1, 2017

HOUSTON -- Yuli Gurriel lined a two-run double with two outs and two strikes in the eighth inning to give the Houston Astros a 7-6 comeback win over the New York Yankees on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.

Gurriel, whose two-run homer gave the Astros (55-27) a short-lived lead in the fifth inning, rifled a fastball down the third-base line and into the right-field corner off fellow Cuban countryman Aroldis Chapman.

Chapman came on after Yankees right-hander Dellin Betances (3-3) walked three batters and allowed a solo home run to catcher Evan Gattis that cut the Yankees' three-run lead to 6-5 with two outs.

The Yankees (43-36) erased the two-run deficit supplied by Gurriel with a five-run sixth inning. Two runs were charged to Astros starter Francis Martes. The big blow came when Didi Gregorius cranked his first career grand slam off Astros right-hander Will Harris to complete the five-run inning.

But the Astros began to chip away against Yankees starter Jordan Montgomery via a Carlos Correa home run in the bottom of the sixth. In the eighth, all three batters who walked eventually scored, with pinch-runner Josh Reddick scoring the tying run after entering for Carlos Beltran.

Gurriel was 3-for-4 with four RBIs. Astros closer Ken Giles notched his 19th save.

Montgomery, 4-0 with a 2.59 ERA in June, surrendered two singles through his first four innings and had four strikeouts during that span. Three of those were in the dirt that catcher Austin Romine had to pick before firing to first to complete the outs.

But the Astros' power played a role in getting to Montgomery. Gurriel smashed a two-run homer to left field for a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning and Correa drove a solo shot the opposite way to right with one out in the sixth.

Those homers, the ninth for Gurriel and 17th for Correa, accounted for all of the Astros' scoring against Montgomery, who allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Unable to harness his repertoire in his previous start last Sunday, Martes was far sharper and effective through his first five innings. He faced the minimum through the third inning and brushed off base hits by Jacoby Ellsbury and Romine in the fourth and fifth. Then in the sixth, the Yankees rallied once again.

NOTES: Astros RHP David Paulino was suspended 80 games without pay for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Paulino (2-0, 6.52 ERA in six starts) tested positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance, and is suspended effective immediately. Houston recalled RHP Dayan Diaz from Triple-A Fresno. Diaz was initially ineligible for recall because he did not spend the requisite 10 days in the minors after he was optioned on June 22. Diaz had been erroneously recalled when the Astros optioned LHP Reymin Guduan to Fresno Friday night. ... The Yankees selected OF Clint Frazier from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and optioned INF Miguel Andujar to the RaidRiders. New York also transferred OF Dustin Fowler to the 60-day disabled list. The Yankees' No. 2 prospect, Frazier batted ninth and played right field while making his major league debut. ... Astros third base coach Gary Pettis will have right knee surgery next week and will be sidelined through the All-Star Game break. Triple-A Fresno manager Tony DeFrancesco will replace Pettis uring the Astros' upcoming road trip through Atlanta and Toronto.