HOUSTON — 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 sequence 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 is the sort of begin I needed,” Soto mentioned with amusing. “I grinded actually onerous 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 Pena and pinch hitter Victor Caratini singled and Jose Altuve hit a tough grounder that third baseman Jon Berti snagged with a dive earlier than scrambling 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 Dubon 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 is simply a variety of enjoyable watching these guys proceed to compete, and it is occurring on each side of the ball,” Boone mentioned.
Nick Burdi (1-0) obtained 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 15⅓ scoreless innings within the sequence.
Altuve homered and doubled for the Astros, who’re 0-4 for the primary time since dropping their first 5 in 2011. Houston has misplaced 9 straight residence 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 struggle,” first-year supervisor Joe Espada mentioned. “That is what it is all about. Give your self an opportunity. You struggle to the final out of the sport and should you do that you’ll end up in a great spot to win video games.”
The Astros trailed by 2 when Altuve obtained 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 Schmidt.
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 start out the fourth and scored on Berti’s single for a 2-1 lead, and Aaron Decide hit a sacrifice fly within the fifth.
Schmidt gave up three runs and 7 hits in 5⅓ innings.
“Clearly you do not play playoff video games in March, however this was a big-time sequence and a big-time sweep and a extremely good option to begin the season,” Schmidt mentioned.
Houston starter J.P. France allowed three runs and 6 hits in 5⅔ innings.