Yankees’ Tough Loss in Houston
On Wednesday, the Yankees faced off in Houston and unfortunately couldn’t keep their winning streak alive, marking their eighth consecutive loss at what used to be called Minute Maid Park.
It’s hard to shake off the disappointment that has haunted the Yankees during October over the last decade. And, well, they kind of relived that pain again Wednesday night, as their bullpen faltered late in the game, even though it’s still September.
Devin Williams took the mound in a tied game during the eighth inning, but things quickly spiraled out of control. Camilo Doval came in afterward, leading to an unfortunate 8-7 defeat against the Astros at Daikin Park.
Williams, who had left with a 5-4 game, watched as Doval allowed the remaining runners to cross home plate. The frustration peaked when Cody Bellinger hit a three-run homer in the ninth, momentarily giving the Yankees a ray of hope.
However, their comeback attempt was derailed when Jazz Chisholm Jr. couldn’t connect on a pitch from the outer edge, adding to the team’s mounting frustration.
The eight innings leading up to that were a disaster; Williams walked off the mound clearly seething after being pulled, and it seemed like everything was going wrong. The Yankees had once led 4-1 before this collapse, slipping to 3½ games behind the Blue Jays for first place while still fighting for a wild card spot against the Red Sox.
Manager Aaron Boone was clearly frustrated after calling on Williams in the eighth, having seen earlier in the game that Fernando Cruz and Luke Weaver had also let a 4-2 lead slip away.
Carlos Correa kept the pressure on, hitting doubles and establishing a rhythm against Williams, who struggled to find the strike zone. He walked Christian Walker, loading the bases, but then managed to strike out Ramielius against the backdrop of a growing sense of doom.
Yet, it wasn’t just Williams. Close calls on pitches had him and Boone visibly upset—both getting into it with home plate umpire Brian Walsh, who seemed to be consistently missing the mark that night.
Will Warren initially cruised through four innings but faced challenges from the Astros, including a home run from Jeremy Peña, narrowing the score to 4-2. That was when Boone turned his attention to the bullpen, hoping for more stability.
As Cruz faced Jordan Alvarez, things turned dicey, allowing a double that put the Yankees in more trouble. Jose Altuve capitalized by scoring on a groundout, further narrowing the Yankees’ lead.
In the seventh inning, things didn’t go smoothly for Weaver either; he walked Peña after letting a lead-off single slip away, prompting concerns about the Yankees’ defense.
Throughout the evening, Giancarlo Stanton shone when he smashed a changeup from Jason Alexander for a home run, marking his 18th of the season and putting the Yankees up early.
Austin Wells also had a notable night, contributing with three hits including a home run and extending his streak by hitting two doubles. His performance briefly lit up what had turned into a tough evening for the Yankees.
