HOUSTON --- With just two weeks to go before the trade deadline, the Yankees were reminded that despite leading the American League in wins, they are still chasing the Astros. Lefty pinch hitter JJ Matijevic singled in a run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as Houston beat the Yankees 3-2 at MinuteMaid Park in the first game of a split doubleheader Thursday.
Alex Bregman led off with a first-pitch single and Aledmy Diaz doubled off Michael King to put runners in scoring position with no outs in the bottom of the inning. King struck out Yuli Gurriel, before the Yankees intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez to load the bases with one out. King struck out Chas McCormick.
Aaron Hicks lined a one-out single off Hector Neris in the top of the ninth to get things started. Giancarlo Stanton, fresh off winning the All-Star Game MVP, grounded out, but Isiah Kiner-Falefa, pinch hitting for Marwin Gonzalez, got a sharp ground ball through the hole at shortstop to tie the game. Joey Gallo worked a two-out, five-pitch walk. Neris got a groundout from DJ LeMahieu to end the inning.
