Houston tops the Yankees, 5-2
For most of the game on Saturday night, the Astros trailed the Yankees.
Again, I feel that it’s worth it to remember this is only practice.
Houston sent likely number five starter Hayden Wesneski to the hill. He walked one, gave up two hits, threw a wild pitch, and surrendered an unearned second inning run. He also struck out five in only 2 1⁄3 innings. An in-game OPS of .585, albeit in a microscopic sample size, and a K/9 over 18.
Nick Hernandez (two bf, two out), Bryan Abreu (one inning, two H, two K), Bryan King (one inning, zero H, one K), Miguel Castro (one inning, one H, one K) and Forrest Whitley (two innings, two one H, two BB, one K) followed Wesneski with scoreless efforts. Misael Tamarez, inheriting a 1-0 deficit in the ninth inning, allowed a walk and a pair of doubles — allowing the Yankees to double their lead going into the bottom of the frame.
Entering the bottom of the ninth, the Astros had collected a grand total of five hits — three singles and two doubles — and were looking at a possible shutout in front of a “home” crowd of 7,656 at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.
Edgar Barclay came in to pitch the final frame for New York, and immediately got Jacob Melton to ground out to first base for the first out. Cooper Hummel followed with a single, then scored on a Brice Matthews triple to halve the lead. Matthews crossed the plate to tie the score on a Cristian Gonzalez one-out RBI-single a moment later. Luis Guillorme added a single of his own, then after a Collin Price strikeout, Cèsar Salazar ended the drama with a walkoff three-run shot. 5-2, Houston.
So Houston got five hits through their first 24 outs, then collected five more with only two outs. Historically, the Yankees are Houston’s most difficult opponent. Houston’s .402 winning percentage in regular season games is by far their worst mark against anyone — although that vitriol you’re tasting is sweetened a little by the Astros 13-5 postseason mark against them.
Houston, now 8-6 this spring, will take on the 3-8 Miami Marlins tomorrow at 12:05 PM CT, behind the left arm of Framber Valdez (1-0 4.91).