With boos and profanities raining from the stands, Jose Altuve stepped as much as the plate, blocked out the noise, and bashed the primary pitch he noticed from Cam Schlittler 389 ft over Yankee Stadium’s left area wall.
The primary-inning, two-run bomb proved pivotal on Friday evening, because the Astros beat the Yankees, 5-3, after 10 innings within the season’s first showdown between the longtime rivals. Altuve, despised within the Bronx on account of his involvement within the 2017 Astros’ trash can dishonest scheme, couldn’t assist however admire his twentieth house run of the season earlier than circling the bases.
However Altuve didn’t obtain the loudest jeers of the evening, as Devin Williams heard an earful from his house crowd after getting into the sport within the tenth inning. The reliever instantly fired a wild pitch, permitting the ghost runner to advance to 3rd earlier than previous and current Astro Carlos Correa picked up a go-ahead single.
A number of batters later, Taylor Trammell added a two-run homer, giving the Astros some respiration room. Whereas Anthony Volpe obtained a run again with an RBI single within the backside of the tenth, Williams’ newest nightmare efficiency sunk the Yankees in predictable vogue.
“I’m not making pitches,” Williams mentioned. “It’s pretty simple. I stink right now.”
Williams has struggled immensely in latest weeks and general this season, posting a 5.73 ERA in his first 12 months with the Yankees. However Boone nonetheless introduced him right into a late, tied recreation for the second time since stripping him of closing duties for the second time this season. Williams’ newest demotion got here earlier this week.
“It’s tough,” Williams mentioned. “It’s not something I’m used to. I really haven’t struggled like this since probably 2018, coming back from [Tommy John surgery]. All I did then was continue to work and just try to help the team in any way I can.”
The Yankees, determined for wins, can not afford to make use of Williams in high-leverage conditions at this level, but Boone continues to take action.
Boone mentioned he needed to keep away from David Bednar, who threw 42 pitches to report a save on Wednesday, and Mark Leiter Jr., who pitched on Tuesday and Wednesday. The supervisor additionally mentioned he didn’t need to carry Luke Weaver out for the tenth after the right-hander threw 19 pitches within the ninth.
“You gotta use your guys,” Boone mentioned, referring to Williams, although he admitted the pitcher is “struggling.”
Williams ruined any likelihood the Yankees had at a comeback victory, as they tied the sport at two within the sixth inning on a pair of RBI singles off Astros starter Hunter Brown, who had retired 14 straight previous to the body. These knocks got here courtesy of Ben Rice and Aaron Choose, however the Astros stopped the bleeding when Bennett Sousa entered the sport, fanned Cody Bellinger on three sliders and induced a tender, first-pitch flyout from Jazz Chisholm Jr. with runners on the corners.
Schlittler, in the meantime, recovered from Altuve’s homer, refusing to permit one other run over 5 innings of labor regardless of surrendering seven hits. He additionally tallied one stroll, three strikeouts and 97 pitches in his fifth main league begin.
“Still trying to figure out the ropes,” Schlittler mentioned. “I’ve got a lot to work on. I think if I clean up those one, two mistakes a game, those turn into good outings. I’ve just got to continue to work on that, get better, and put the team in a position to win.”
The rookie right-hander had some assist from Bellinger in limiting the first-place Astros’ offense, as the fitting fielder saved a run when he threw Trammell out at house plate within the fourth inning following an aggressive ship from Houston third base coach Tony Perezchica.
The Yankees are actually clinging to a half-game lead for the third and last AL wild card spot over the Guardians, who beat the White Sox on Friday. The Rangers misplaced to the Phillies and stay 1.5 video games behind the Yankees.
With their house stand off to a bitter begin following an unsightly highway journey, the Yankees face one other robust starter on Saturday, as Framber Valdez is pitching for Houston. Luis Gil will make his second begin of the season for the reeling Yankees, however not earlier than they rejoice Outdated-Timers’ Day.
The yearly custom will characteristic an alumni recreation for the primary time since 2019 earlier than the Yankees commemorate the twenty fifth anniversary of their 2000 championship crew. Roger Clemens and Alfonso Soriano shall be among the many first-time Outdated-Timers.
Initially Revealed: August 8, 2025 at 10:05 PM EDT
