Cody Bellinger delivered a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh inning and the host New York Yankees recorded a 9-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
After loading the bases in the second and fourth but scoring only once, the Yankees produced a four-run seventh after two singles sandwiching a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Bellinger ripped a 1-1 fastball from Bennett Sousa (1-3) off center field fence in front of New York’s bullpen to score Trent Grisham and Ben Rice.
Rookie Spencer Jones added a one-out RBI single, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. contributed an RBI double. Chisholm had his third three-hit game of the season and drew a walk.
Rice hit his 35th homer in the first inning, with the solo shot to right field moving him within one of Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez for the AL lead.
Luis Garcia Jr. scored on a groundout by rookie George Lombard Jr. in the first, and Chisholm came home on Grisham’s double-play grounder in the fourth to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.
Garcia added a two-run homer in the eighth and had three hits after finishing 4-for-5 on Tuesday. New York won for the seventh time in nine games.
The Yankees held the one-run lead until the seventh inning. With Paul Blackburn on the mound, Christian Walker’s grounder caromed off Lombard’s glove as the rookie shortstop made an error for the fifth game in a row, allowing Jose Altuve to score. Blackburn kept the game tied by striking out Christian Vazquez and Jeremy Pena with the bases loaded.
Michael Fulmer pitched a perfect eighth in his debut for the Yankees. He signed with the team earlier Wednesday when Fernando Cruz was placed on the injured list due to right elbow discomfort.
New York rookie starter Elmer Rodriguez allowed three runs on three hits in six-plus innings during his fifth career start. He walked two and struck out six.
Altuve hit an RBI double in the first and Daulton Varsho homered in the fourth for the Astros, who lost for the 10th time in 16 games.
Houston starter Peter Lambert allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. He fanned five and walked three.