Controversial replay helps Yankees avoid painful talking points in rout of Astros

After a botched check-swing call on Tuesday night adversely impacted the Yankees in their loss to the Astros, the script was flipped Wednesday. New York routed Houston by a score of 9-3 in what was a much-needed feel-good win for the Bombers.

It all erupted for the Yanks in the bottom of the seventh, when Trent Grisham led off with a single. Moments later, he was nearly picked off at first base. Grisham was seemingly trying to steal second (when he has no business doing so) with Ben Rice at the plate.

Reliever Bennett Sousa made a great throw and Astros first baseman Christian Walker made a good tag. Grisham was called safe, but the Astros called for a review. The replays showed that Grisham was probably out. It felt like it was conclusive evidence. But the ruling on the field stood, just like it did the inning prior when it appeared as it Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole second base. He was called out on the field, and despite an angle that suggested the call could get overturned, it was upheld.

After Grisham was confirmed to be safe, the Yankees scored four runs. Rice walked, Luis García Jr. singled, and Cody Bellinger hit a two-run double. Spencer Jones and Chisholm added two more RBI. García Jr. hit a two-run homer in the next inning.

The Yankees racked up 13 hits and five walks to cap their impressive showing on offense. It was an emphatic response after they couldn't keep up punch for punch on Tuesday. Grab the series win tomorrow, and get ready for the Red Sox this weekend. Gerrit Cole has the finale.

Yankees still have concerns despite big win over Astros

But this game wasn't without its glaring issues. In the top of the first inning, the Astros quickly got on the board. Elmer Rodriguez, who ended up being excellent (6 IP, 3 ER 6 K), got two quick outs but then walked Isaac Paredes. That brought Jose Altuve to the plate, who was mercilessly booed by the crowd at Yankee Stadium.

He proceeded to do what he always does: crush the Yankees. He hit a double to center field and got the Astros out to a quick 1-0 lead.

First of all, Yankees fans need to stop this. The boos fuel this man. Enough giving him bulletin board material. Secondly, Altuve's "double" wasn't quite that. Grisham made a bad read and took a poor angle to the ball, providing more evidence for Aaron Boone to play Spencer Jones in center. Does the manager really trust this type of defense come October?

Let's not forget, Grisham also grounded into a double play with the bases loaded and no outs in the fourth inning, which killed the Yankees' potential rally. Then, he should've been picked off a few innings later. All in all, just not a good baseball night for him. There have been far too many of those.

And then there's George Lombard Jr., who is not making a convincing enough case to be the team's starting shortstop. He made his fifth error in five games and was once again lucky this didn't cause things to snowball. The offense bailed him out on Sunday, and did so again Wednesday.

That is a relatively routine defensive play, as most of his miscues have been. It's a terrible look because this is exactly what so many Yankees fans complained about with Anthony Volpe (who is raking at Triple-A, by the way). While Lombard had an RBI in this one, he also struck out three times on a night where every other Yankee got a hit.

As much as we'll be able to rest easy after that satisfying win, the Yankees still have so many questions to answer as they prepare for the postseason. And even a six-run victory isn't going to hide that.

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