Juan Soto has go-ahead hit in 9th and Yankees beat Astros 4-3 for opening 4-game sweep

HOUSTON (AP) Juan Soto had three hits capped by an RBI single with two outs within the ninth inning that lifted the New York Yankees to a 4-3 win Sunday that accomplished a gap four-game sweep of the Houston Astros.

With the rating 3-3, Gleyber Torres singled off nearer Josh Hader (0-1) with two outs within the ninth inning and stole second base. Soto then singled on a line drive to left area.

“It simply put a bow on the collection of what we noticed in his at-bats,” supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned.

Soto hit .529 (9 for 17) with 4 RBIs in his first video games with the Yankees after his commerce from San Diego, serving to New York to its first 4-0 begin since 2003 and simply its fourth since 1950.

“That’s the sort of begin I wished,” Soto mentioned with fun. “I grinded actually exhausting this offseason and in spring coaching to achieve success at first of the season.”

The Astros had a shot to tie it within the backside of the inning in opposition to Clay Holmes. Jeremy Peña and pinch-hitter Victor Caratini singled and Jose Altuve hit a tough grounder that third baseman Jon Berti snagged with dive and scrambled to 3rd for a forceout.

Yordan Alvarez hit a drive 2 inches foul of the left-field line and adopted with a fly that superior pinch-runner Mauricio Dubón to 3rd. Alex Verdugo made a sliding catch in left area on a ball hit by Kyle Tucker to finish it and provides Holmes his third save.

“It’s simply a variety of enjoyable watching these guys proceed to compete, and it’s occurring on each side of the ball,” Boone mentioned.

Nick Burdi (1-0) bought the final two outs of the eighth for his first massive league win since April 17, 2019 for Pittsburgh in opposition to Detroit. Yankees relievers pitched 15 1/3 scoreless innings within the collection.

Altuve homered and doubled for the Astros, 0-4 for the primary time since dropping their first 5 in 2011. Houston has misplaced 9 straight house video games courting to final 12 months, together with the playoffs, and has misplaced seven in a row to the Yankees.

“I just like the battle,” first-year supervisor Joe Espada mentioned. “That’s what it’s all about. Give your self an opportunity. You battle to the final out of the sport and for those who do that you just’re going to search out your self in a great place to win video games.”

The Astros trailed by 2 when Altuve bought issues going within the sixth when he doubled to left area. Tucker’s double with one out within the inning scored Altuve to chop the result in 3-2 and chase Clarke Schimdt.

Jonathan Loaisiga took over and Yainer Diaz’s RBI single with two outs tied it at 3-3.

Giancarlo Stanton doubled within the second and scored on Jose Trevino’s single, and Altuve’s homer tied the rating within the third. Anthony Rizzo doubled to begin the fourth and scored on Berti’s single for a 2-1 lead, and Aaron Choose hit a sacrifice fly within the fifth.

Schmidt gave up three runs and 7 hits in 5 1/3 innings.

“Clearly you don’t play playoff video games in March, however this was a big-time collection and a big-time sweep and a very good method to begin the season,” Schmidt mentioned.

Houston starter J.P. France allowed three runs and 6 hits in 5 2/3 innings.

UP NEXT

Yankees: New York RHP Luis Gil opposes Arizona RHP Ryne Nelson when the Yankees open a three-game collection in opposition to the Diamondbacks on Monday evening.

Astros: Houston RHP Ronel Blanco faces Toronto RHP Bowden Francis when the Astros and Blue Jays begin a three-game collection Monday evening.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB