New York Yankees Recap: Evan Gattis’ Two Home Runs Spoil Michael Pineda’s Return

After being embarrassed 15-1 by the Houston Astros (71-57) last night, the New York Yankees (69-57) were hoping for better results this afternoon as Michael Pineda (9-8, 4.19) made his first start since July 24. Unfortunately, the offense struggled and could not get much going against Collin McHugh (14-7, 3.92). Behind a strong outing by McHugh and two home runs by Evan Gattis, the Astros won the rubber game in this three-game series, 6-2.

The Astros would get on the board first in the top of the second. Gattis, who was the designated hitter today, led off the inning by hitting a solo shot that barely got over the wall in right. It was Gattis’ 21^st home run of the season that gave Houston a 1-0 lead.

Then, in the fifth, A.J. Hinch’s team put four more runs on the board. Carlos Gomez and Luis Valbuena led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Then, Jake Marisnick was able to bunt for a hit to extend the lead to 2-0. After a Jason Castro walk, the lead became 3-0 when Jose Altuve hit a sacrifice fly to center. That would be it for Pineda as Joe Girardi brought in Chasen Shreve to face Marwin Gonzalez.

Gonzalez would end up singling to left to increase the Astros’ lead to 4-0. The final run of the inning would score on a wild pitch later in the inning by Shreve, which meant all the runners Pineda left on base eventually came around to score. As for Pineda’s outing, he went 4.1 innings, gave up five runs on six hits, struck out three, and walked one on 71 pitches (44 strikes) in the loss.

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After McHugh shut out the Yankees for the first six innings, New York found a way to get on the board in the seventh. Greg Bird would leadoff the inning by drawing a walk. Then, Didi Gregorius hit a 0-1 breaking ball over the wall in right for a two-run shot. Gregorius’ sixth home run of the season cut Houston’s lead for 5-2 and would end McHugh’s day. The Astros’ right-hander went 6.1 innings, gave up two runs on five hits, struck out eight, and walked two on 107 pitches (66 strikes) in the win.

One inning later, the Astros would get one of those runs back. With one out, Gattis crushed a solo shot to left center against Adam Warren. His 22^nd of the season and third home run in the last two days put Houston ahead, 6-2.

The Yankees tried to rally in the bottom of the eighth. With two on and two out, Bird flew out to the warning track in right center against Pat Neshek to end the inning. Mark Teixeira, who was out of the lineup with a sore leg, did bat for Brendan Ryan in the bottom of the ninth, but grounded out to first to end the game.

Next Game: After a day off tomorrow, the New York Yankees will begin a three game series against the Atlanta Braves (54-72) at Turner Field on Friday night. You can catch the game on YES. Masahiro Tanaka (9-6, 3.61) gets the start for New York against Williams Perez (4-4, 4.76) for Atlanta.

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