Judge, Ohtani among 3 finalists for AL MVP award next week
The BBWAA also revealed finalists for the Cy Young Awards, Rookies of the Year and Managers of the Year on Monday night. Balloting was conducted at the conclusion of the regular season, and winners will be announced next week. Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox and Alek Manoah of the Toronto Blue Jays are the other AL Cy Young finalists. Miami ace Sandy Alcantara, Atlanta left-hander Max Fried and Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Julio Urías are the top three vote-getters for the NL Cy Young Award. Peña, who won a Gold Glove last week, was the World Series MVP against Philadelphia and the AL Championship Series MVP versus the Yankees.
wftv.comWorld Series: Philadelphia becomes 1st city to ever lose 2 championships in 1 day with Phillies, Union loss
The city lost both the MLS Cup and the World Series in the span of about five hours, going from the Philadelphia Union's heartbreaking loss to LAFC to another dramatic loss for the Philadelphia Phillies that clinched the World Series for the Houston Astros. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it is the first time a city has ever last two championships in one day. To be fair, it's pretty hard to lose two championships in one day as you either need the MLS Cup to coincide with the World Series or the NBA Finals to line up with the Stanley Cup finals. The Union's loss to LAFC was absurdIt isn't hyperbole to say Saturday's MLS Cup was the greatest game in the history of the league. pic.twitter.com/0B2odiUUFZ — FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 6, 2022Three innings later, Houston was celebrating its World Series title.
wftv.comAlvarez blasts Baker, Astros to World Series title vs Phils
The 73-year-old Baker, who had been to the World Series twice before as a skipper, is the oldest championship manager. Astros rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña was the World Series MVP after getting another key hit, a single to set up Alvarez's drive. Houston won an American League-best 106 games and reached its fourth World Series during a span in which it made it to the AL Championship Series six seasons in a row. The Astros made their only other World Series appearance in 2005, while still in the National League, and were swept in four games by the Chicago White Sox. Valdez became the only left-hander other than Sandy Koufax in 1963 to strike five consecutive batters in a World Series game.
wftv.comAlvarez blasts Astros to World Series title in G6 vs. Phils
HOUSTON — (AP) — Yordan Alvarez hit a towering go-ahead homer and the Houston Astros clinched their second World Series title in six seasons and got Dusty Baker his first crown as a manager with a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 on Saturday night. Baker finally got his first title in his 25th season as a manager, the past three since being hired by the Astros to help the team regain credibility after the sign-stealing scandal that cost manger A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs, and made Houston the most reviled team in baseball. The 73-year-old Baker, who had been to the World Series twice before as a skipper, is the oldest championship manager. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
wftv.comAlvarez blasts Baker, Astros to World Series title vs Phils
Yordan Alvarez hit a moon shot that sent Space City into a frenzy, and the Houston Astros to their second World Series title. While the stain on Houston’s first championship might never completely fade, Alvarez’s majestic three-run homer helped fashion a fresh crown for the Astros -- and the first for Dusty Baker as manager -- in a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 on Saturday night. “What happened before, it doesn’t ever pass over completely,” said Baker, the veteran manager hired by the Astros in the wake of their sign-stealing scandal.
news.yahoo.comWorld Series: Astros topple Phillies in Game 6, claim a legacy-sealing championship behind Yordan Alvarez
With six more innings of dazzling work from Framber Valdez and one thunderous swing from Yordan Alvarez, the Astros cut down the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6, 4-1, to win the 2022 World Series. Initially a duel between Valdez and Phillies starter Zack Wheeler, Game 6 turned in the sixth inning, when the starters tired and the bats caught up. For six straight seasons, the Astros have reached at least the ALCS, four times reaching the World Series. Valdez, a beguiling lefty who burst out of Houston’s star-making player development operation in 2018, started two of the Astros wins in the World Series, including the clinching Game 6. Baker, in the 25th season of a wildly successful managerial career, finally won his first World Series after two previous close calls and countless more playoff appearances.
wftv.comAltuve breaks out with 3 hits as Astros even World Series
HOUSTON — (AP) — For the first time in a sluggish postseason, Jose Altuve looked like himself in Game 2 of the World Series. Yordan Alvarez hit a third straight double after the ones by Altuve and Peña to make the Astros the first team in MLB history to open a World Series with three extra-base hits. “He can’t be happy, but he’s happy that we’re winning,” Baker said. They swept their way through the Division Series and Championship Series, and Friday's defeat was their first since Oct. 3. Altuve ranks first in playoff franchise history with 99 hits and 23 homers, which are the second-most in MLB history behind Manny Ramirez (29).
wftv.comThe Phillies and Rob Thomson play like every moment could be decisive. It won them World Series Game 1
Realmuto tied the game with a double, won the game with a homer and caught 10 innings of white-knuckle baseball that these Phillies seem conditioned to withstand. But the Phillies only got there because — either on purpose or instinctively — they played every moment with similar urgency. How Rob Thomson drove Phillies to Game 1 winFor the better part of … the whole season, the Phillies and interim-turned-permanent manager Rob Thomson have been grappling with the challenge of RIGHT NOW. The Phillies win like a toddler swims: Naturally, but out of pure necessity. Once the Phillies pulled even, there surely could have been temptation for Thomson to renew his own commitment to starter Aaron Nola.
wftv.comAstros sweep Yankees in ALCS, advance to World Series again
After losing to Atlanta in last year's World Series, Houston earned the fifth pennant in franchise history and another chance at its second World Series championship. With the playoffs expanded to 12 teams this year, the Phillies became the first third-place squad in baseball history to reach the World Series. Giancarlo Stanton laced an RBI single off starter Lance McCullers Jr., and Torres blooped a run-scoring single into center. UP NEXTAstros: Justin Verlander is likely to start the World Series opener. He is 0-6 in seven World Series starts.
wftv.comAstros sweep Yankees in ALCS, advance to World Series again
Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman delivered big hits and the Houston Astros advanced to the World Series again, finishing a four-game sweep of New York in the AL Championship Series with a 6-5 victory aided by another defensive gaffe from the Yankees.
Seattle welcomes back playoffs, M's, try to skip elimination
There was bunting draped off the railings in October and logos painted on the grass of T-Mobile Park that were absent for the past two decades when the Seattle Mariners were stuck in baseball purgatory and left as a spectator every postseason.
Alvarez homers again, Astros top Mariners 4-2, lead ALDS 2-0
HOUSTON — (AP) — Yordan Alvarez and his mighty bat did it yet again, launching a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning off Seattle ace Luis Castillo that lifted the Houston Astros over the Mariners 4-2 on Thursday for a 2-0 lead in the AL Division Series. That brought up Alvarez, who hit a 98 mph pitch tailing away to the opposite field, into the short porch in left to put the Astros on top 3-2. Alvarez, who had 37 homers in the regular season, trotted around the bases as cameras panned to his Cuban parents, who are watching their first postseason series after arriving in Houston in August. There were two outs and a runner on first in the eighth when Seattle had surely seen enough of Alvarez leaving the yard. The Mariners intentionally walked him and Alex Bregman made them pay, adding some insurance when he singled to make it 4-2.
wftv.comMLB Playoffs: Alvarez, Astros resume series vs Mariners
The Seattle Mariners need a new plan for locking down October-tested Astros star Yordan Alvarez, because what they tried in Game 1 certainly didn't work. The two NL Division Series, pitting the Phillies vs. the Braves and the Padres against the Dodgers, have the day off. Castillo, acquired in July from the Cincinnati Reds, could be Seattle's best chance to slow Alvarez and the Astros. The two-time All-Star pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings to beat Toronto in the AL wild-card opener. They split the first two games of their best-of-five Division Series against the Braves in Atlanta.
wftv.comMake your own destiny: Yordan Alvarez stuns charmed Mariners with thunderous reminder of Astros' AL dominance
Don't lie, you were starting to believe the 2022 Seattle Mariners were a Team of Destiny. But then, in a stomach-churning twist for the charming and heretofore charmed Mariners, the truth made itself plain: Destiny had come to meet Yordan Alvarez. Baseball has never seen a home run quite like Yordan Alvarez'sDown late in a postseason game is a tough time to hit. Down just a little bit late in a postseason game? If the Mariners or any other team are going to get past the Astros, it’s not going to be on a flight of fancy.
wftv.comMLB playoffs: Dodgers hold off Padres in Game 1 as Yankees ride Gerrit Cole past Guardians
After advancing directly to their ALDS and NLDS slots via byes, the Astros, Yankees, Dodgers and Braves will take on challengers. Game 2 will set up a matchup of the Padres' Yu Darvish and Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw. Yankees ride Gerrit Cole to Game 1 win vs. GuardiansThe Guardians struck first, but Gerrit Cole and the Yankees got the last laugh in ALDS Game 1. The day had begun with the young Mariners jumping all over AL Cy Young favorite Justin Verlander. Phillies keep the line moving, hold on for Game 1 win vs. BravesDo you like rallies?
wftv.comMLB playoffs: Yankees narrowly lead Guardians in Game 1 after Astros stage epic comeback to top Mariners
After advancing directly to their ALDS and NLDS slots via byes, the Astros, Yankees, Dodgers and Braves will take on challengers. The day had begun with the young Mariners jumping all over AL Cy Young favorite Justin Verlander. Then, in the ninth inning, Mariners reliever Paul Sewald hit David Hensley and gave up a single to Jeremy Pena. Phillies keep the line moving, hold on for Game 1 win vs. BravesDo you like rallies? Newly appointed closer Zach Eflin held on to give Philly the win despite a furious Braves comeback attempt in the ninth inning.
wftv.comAlvarez hits 3-run HR vs Ray in 9th, Astros jolt M's in ALDS
Trailing all game after a poor start by Justin Verlander, the AL West champion Astros overtook rookie star Julio Rodríguez and the wild-card Mariners at the end to begin their best-of-five Division Series. Mariners manager Scott Servais then made the bold move to bring in Ray, who started Saturday at Toronto in the AL wild-card series, for a lefty vs. lefty matchup with Alvarez. Ray won the Cy Young last year with Toronto, had made only six relief appearances in his career and had never earned a pro save. The Mariners jumped on Verlander for six runs in just four innings to build a 6-2 lead early. Yuli Gurriel hit a solo homer in the Houston fourth before Eugenio Suarez's solo shot in the seventh extended Seattle's lead to 7-3.
wftv.comAlvarez hits 3-run HR vs Ray in 9th, Astros jolt M's in ALDS
Yordan Alvarez smashed a game-ending, three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning off Robbie Ray, wrecking Seattle’s strategy of using a Cy Young Award winner in a rare relief role and vaulting the Houston Astros over the Mariners 8-7 in their playoff opener.
ALDS: Yordan Alvarez's mammoth 3-run walkoff blast completes wild Astros rally past Mariners
For most of Game 1 on Tuesday, the Seattle Mariners looked poised for an upset in their ALDS matchup with the top-seeded Houston Astros. He'd previously made four career relief appearances in 10 MLB seasons and none since 2020. Astros manager Dusty Baker, who's managed 25 major league seasons and played 19 MLB seasons before that, called the home run one of the best moments he's ever seen in the game. Servais, meanwhile, explained his decision to pitch Ray during the decisive at-bat. Per MLB, Alvarez's was the first walkoff home run in postseason history that overcame a multi-run deficit.
wftv.comPhillies end 11-year playoff drought as Aaron Nola flirts with perfect game
But he was close enough in a playoff-clincher for the Philadelphia Phillies. The clincher ends an 11-season playoff drought for the Phillies, who were postseason mainstays during their last appearance in 2011. That trip to the playoffs capped a five-year postseason run in Philadelphia that included a World Series championship in 2009. The good news for the Phillies was bad news for the Milwaukee Brewers, who were eliminated from the postseason when Philadelphia clinched MLB's final unclaimed postseason berth. The Phillies will travel on Friday to face either the St. Louis Cardinals or New York Mets in a best-of-three series in MLB's new 12-team playoff format.
wftv.comFantasy Baseball: Early top-12 draft rankings for 2023 MLB season
Whether you had a great fantasy baseball season or a miserable one, you are likely ready to turn the page to 2023. 3: Ronald Acuna (OF, Atlanta Braves)Acuna may have the best chance of anyone on this list to push past Judge and rank as the best fantasy asset next season. 12 Mookie Betts (OF, Los Angeles Dodgers)Betts started slowly this year (.731 OPS in April) before warming up with the weather and ranking among the best fantasy options. The 29-year-old sits second in runs scored, eighth in home runs and has been a solid contributor in the three other standard categories. My 2023 plan will be to start with a pair of hitters before attacking pitching in the subsequent two rounds.
wftv.comValdez has MLB-record 25th quality start, Astros down A's
HOUSTON — (AP) — Framber Valdez set an MLB record with his 25th straight quality start, and Yordan Alvarez and Martin Maldonado had four RBIs each to help the Houston Astros build an early lead in an 11-2 rout of the Oakland Athletics on Sunday. Alvarez drove in three runs with a double in Houston’s five-run third inning and padded the lead with an RBI double the sixth inning. Valdez, who threw his first career shutout in his last start, is 15-4 during this streak, which began April 25. The Astros jumped on rookie Ken Waldichuk (0-2) early as he was tagged for five hits and five runs in 2 2/3 innings in his fifth career start. Nick Allen and Tony Kemp hit consecutive singles to start the sixth before Garcia’s double scored them both to cut the lead to 7-2.
wftv.comAlvarez has 3 HRs, Astros down A's to clinch playoff berth
HOUSTON — (AP) — Yordan Alvarez homered in his first three at-bats, Justin Verlander threw five hitless innings in his return from the injured list and the Houston Astros clinched a postseason berth with a 5-0 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night. The Astros (95-50) won their sixth straight game to join the Los Angeles Dodgers as the first two teams to secure playoff spots, reaching their sixth straight postseason. Alvarez, second in the AL with 36 home runs, had solo shots off Adrián Martínez in the first, third and fifth innings. There have been only 15 three-homer games in Houston history and Alvarez joins Glenn Davis and Jeff Bagwell as the only Astros to have more than one. There were two outs in the first when Alvarez connected on a shot to straightaway center field to make it 1-0.
wftv.com2022 Fantasy Baseball: Will the unluckiest players of the season bounce back next year?
Throughout a six-month MLB and fantasy season, each player’s luck tends to even out. And the players listed below can, unfortunately, count themselves as the unluckiest players of 2022. But Statcast has him ranked as one of the unluckiest players in several areas, assigning him a solid .267 xBA and a .340 xwOBA. Corey Seager (SS, Texas Rangers)Seager is in the midst of a solid season from a fantasy perspective, having produced a career-best 29 homers. After all, what more can Alvarez do after ranking third in baseball in OPS this season?
wftv.comOhtani reaches 400 MLB strikeouts, Angels beat Astros in 12
After eight strong innings from Shohei Ohtani on Saturday night, the last thing Matt Duffy and the Los Angeles Angels wanted was to make sure that effort was in vain. Duffy's bloop single in the 12th inning drove in Taylor Ward with the winning run as the Angels rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros. Earlier in the game, Ohtani reached 400 major league strikeouts.
news.yahoo.comParents of Astros' Alvarez come from Cuba to see 1st game
HOUSTON — (AP) — When Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez stepped up to the plate in the first inning Tuesday night, he had three extra special guests cheering for him. To be at Minute Maid Park to see Alvarez play for the first time in his fourth major league season was a long and arduous operation that involved many roadblocks. “We’ve had to go through a lot of difficulties to get here today.”Despite those struggles, the family never lost hope that they’d make it to see their son play in the majors. “He was just happy and excited because we were all waiting for this moment to come,” Salazar said. Asked what the long-awaited night meant to them, both mother and father responded almost in unison with the same phrase.
wftv.comParents of Astros' Alvarez come from Cuba to see 1st game
When Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez stepped up to the plate in the first inning Tuesday night, he had three extra special guests cheering for him. Fresh after arriving from Cuba, his father, Agustín Eduardo Álvarez Salazar, teary-eyed mother Mailyn Cadogan Reyes and brother Yonder Alvarez Cadogan each proudly wore a No 44 Alvarez jersey as they gazed wide-eyed at the field, watching the Houston star play professionally for the first time. To be at Minute Maid Park to see Alvarez play for the first time in his fourth major league season was a long and arduous operation that involved many roadblocks.
news.yahoo.comTucker, Urquidy power Astros past Braves as Ozuna hears boos
José Urquidy won his 12th game for the AL-leading Astros. The Braves went up 2-0 in the first when Dansby Swanson singled and Matt Olson hit his 26th homer, a 432-foot shot to right-center. The Astros tacked on a run in the ninth off Stephens on Gurriel’s RBI single to make it 5-2. UP NEXTRHP Jake Odorizzi (4-5, 4.15 ERA) will face RHP Roansy Contreras (3-3, 4.02) when the Braves open a three-game series at Pittsburgh. The Astros are off Monday and have yet to announce a starter Tuesday when Houston begins a three-game home series against Minnesota.
wftv.comTucker, Urquidy power Astros past Braves as Ozuna hears boos
Atlanta outfielder Marcell Ozuna was booed by his home fans in his return, Kyle Tucker singled to drive in Yordan Alvarez for the go-ahead run in the eighth, José Urquidy won his 12th game, and the Houston Astros beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 to avoid a three-game sweep.
Astros star Alvarez back at ballpark after breathing scare
Manager Dusty Baker said doctors weren't able to find any cause of the breathing issues. Alvarez was at the ballpark but under a concussion-like protocol where the team was monitoring his every move. Baker said Alvarez could return to the lineup for the finale of the three-game series Sunday. Baker said Alvarez started having some breathing issues while running the bases, and the condition was exacerbated by in-game fireworks. Alvarez was transported to an Atlanta hospital to undergo testing but doctors weren't able to pinpoint a cause.
wftv.comAstros slugger Alvarez hospitalized with shortness of breath
ATLANTA — (AP) — Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez was taken to a hospital during Friday night's game against Atlanta because of shortness of breath that was exacerbated by the Braves' in-game fireworks, Houston manager Dusty Baker said. That's when Alvarez, who is batting .295 with 31 homers and 77 RBIs, made his break for the Houston dugout. He was just, he had shortness of breath, and then when they shot the fireworks off, the smoke kind of made it worse. Baker said no one in the Astros' dugout knew Alvarez, an AL All-Star this year and the 2019 Rookie of the Year, was in any distress. “He’s a big, big part of this team," Baker said.
wftv.comLast week's 5 biggest fantasy surprises: Is Nick Castellanos finally fixed?
Ranks are based on standard Yahoo fantasy leaguesNick Castellanos, Philadelphia Phillies OFFantasy rank over the last seven days: 32Season-long fantasy rank: 182It's too early to tell whether Castellanos has completely turned things around. Ryan McMahon, Colorado Rockies 2B, 3BFantasy rank over the last seven days: 5Season-long fantasy rank: 245Fantasy managers have waited for a breakout from Ryan McMahon for years now. But if he can turn in 1-2 more strong starts, fantasy managers shouldn't completely write off his performance. Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros OFFantasy rank over the last seven days: 581Season-long fantasy rank: 10Even the best hitters in baseball are subject to bad weeks. But the instant he puts together a few consecutive starts with high strikeout numbers, he's worth another look.
wftv.comYordan Alvarez gets 4 strikes in AB during Astros win
Red Sox Astros Baseball Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez hits a sacrifice fly to score Jose Altuve during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (David J. Phillip)HOUSTON — (AP) — Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez doesn't need any help at the plate. The All-Star got it anyway Wednesday in Houston's 6-1 win over the Boston Red Sox when he wasn't called out after a third strike. After that, home plate umpire Jim Wolf called strike one, and Alvarez fouled off a pitch for strike two. Red Sox manager Alex Cora was not asked about the play.
wftv.comAstros slugger Yordan Álvarez somehow gets 4 strikes in single at-bat
MLB: JUL 27 Astros at Athletics OAKLAND, CA - JULY 27: Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) gets ready for a pitch during the game between the Houston Astros and the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Houston Astros star Yordan Álvarez is already one of the most feared sluggers in the league. He followed that up with another curveball that hit the strike zone for strike 1, then Álvarez fouled off another curve for strike 2. Instead, Álvarez was allowed to keep hitting and, fortunately for Hill, grounded out to first base on the next pitch. Did they just give Yordan 4 strikes or am I going crazy?
wftv.comYankees' Aaron Judge 2nd fastest to 200 career home runs
Royals Yankees Baseball New York Yankees' Aaron Judge hits a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, July 30, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) (Mary Altaffer)NEW YORK — (AP) — Yankees star Aaron Judge became the second-fastest player in major league history to reach 200 career home runs with a two-run drive in the second inning for New York against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday. A free agent at the end of the season, Judge has nine homers and 21 RBIs with a .447 batting average in 10 games since the All-Star break. After hitting just one homer in his first 13 games, Judge has connected for 36 over his last 79 games and remains on pace to surpass Roger Maris’ club record of 61, set in 1961. Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez is the only player this season to reach 30 this season.
wftv.comYankees' Aaron Judge 2nd fastest to 200 career home runs
Yankees star Aaron Judge became the second-fastest player in major league history to reach 200 career home runs with a two-run drive in the second inning for New York against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday. The 6-foot-7 slugger, who became the first player in the majors this season to reach 40 homers Friday, fouled off two breaking balls from starter Jonathan Heasley before sending a 2-2 fastball into the right-center field seats. Judge’s 200th homer came in his 671st career game, behind just Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard, who achieved the feat in 2009 in 658 games.
news.yahoo.comVerlander wins MLB-leading 14th, Astros rout Mariners 11-1
Mariners Astros Baseball Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws to a Seattle Mariners batter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 29, 2022, in Houston. Verlander (14-3) allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings and allowed five hits with five strikeouts and outdueled Seattle's Robbie Ray, last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner. Verlander allowed just three earned runs in four starts and 26 2/3 innings in July. He has been hit hard by Houston this season, giving up 14 runs in 10 2/3 innings in three starts. Astros: RHP Lance McCullers Jr. continues to make progress in his rehab from a forearm strain in the offseason.
wftv.comAstros end Mariners' winning streak at 14; J-Rod scratched
Astros Mariners Baseball Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez reacts as he rounds the bases after he hit a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, July 22, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (Ted S. Warren)SEATTLE — (AP) — The Houston Astros ended the Seattle Mariners' winning streak at 14 games, with Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez homering in a 5-2 victory Friday night. The club was one win shy of matching the 2001 Mariners for the longest winning streak in franchise history. Ty France hit a solo homer for Seattle in the sixth inning against Jose Urquidy (9-4). J-ROD SITSThe 21-year-old Rodríguez was pulled from the lineup days after a breakout show at the All-Star Home Run Derby.
wftv.comAlvarez homers as Astros down Yankees 7-5 for DH sweep
Yankees Astros Baseball Houston Astros' Yordan Alverez, left, celebrates with Alex Bregman after hitting a solo home run off New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German during the first inning in the second game of a baseball doubleheader Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox) (Kevin M. Cox)HOUSTON — (AP) — Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman both homered and combined for five RBIs as the Houston Astros completed a doubleheader sweep of the New York Yankees on Thursday with a 7-5 win in Game 2. Chas McCormick added a two-run home run for the Astros, who won the season series 5-2 against the team with baseball's best record. The Astros went back-to-back when Bregman connected off Domingo Germán (0-1) four pitches later to make it 2-0. Judge walked with one out in the third before the Yankees cut the lead to three on a home run by Torres.
wftv.comMatijevic’s 9th-inning single lifts Astros over Yankees 3-2
Yankees Astros Baseball Houston Astros pinch hitter J.J. Matijevic, second from left, celebrates with Justin Verlander after hitting a walkoff single during the ninth inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the New York Yankees, Thursday, July 21, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox) (Kevin M. Cox)HOUSTON — (AP) — Rookie J.J. Matijevic’s pinch-hit RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning lifted the Houston Astros to a 3-2 win over the New York Yankees on Thursday in the opener of a day-night doubleheader between the American League’s top teams. Alex Bregman led off the Houston ninth with a single against Michael King (6-3). King looked as if he might be able to escape the jam after he struck out Chas McCormick, but Matijevic drove in Bregman with an infield single to shortstop. The doubleheader between the major league-leading Yankees and the Astros is to help make up a series that was postponed because of the lockout.
wftv.comLEADING OFF: All-Star squads start to change, Álvarez out
Álvarez originally hurt his hand June 18 against the White Sox and has been dealing with soreness and inflammation since then. The Astros expect him to miss the next two series and possibly return after the All-Star break. New York ace Max Scherzer (5-1, 2.26 ERA) makes his second start since returning from an oblique injury. They will be without injured catcher James McCann and All-Star second baseman Jeff McNeil, who is headed to the paternity list with his wife due to deliver their first child. All-Star right fielder Starling Marte sat out Sunday and is day-to-day with left groin tightness.
wftv.comVerlander gets MLB-leading 11th win as Astros down KC 5-2
Royals Astros Baseball Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, July 7, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) (Michael Wyke)HOUSTON — (AP) — Justin Verlander got his MLB-leading 11th win, Yordan Alvarez hit his 26th homer and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 on Thursday to take the series 3-1. His 26 home runs rank second in the AL to Yankees’ star Aaron Judge, who has 30. Emmanuel Rivera and Edward Olivares hit consecutive singles to start the second. Astros: José Urquidy (7-3, 4.15) will oppose Oakland’s Paul Blackburn (6-3, 2.90) when the Astros open a three-game series against the Athletics on Friday night.
wftv.com