Chapman helps Yanks turn up heat on Astros
Ace reliever whiffs MVP to cap wild win
HOUSTON — Even when things got tense — bottom of the ninth, one-run game, Jose Altuve vs. Aroldis Chapman — Yankees manager Aaron Boone stepped back to marvel in the moment.
“I said: ‘This is pretty good, isn’t it?’ This is great,” Boone said, recalling a quick dugout conversation with a coach. “This is what you live for, right? This is our best against the reigning MVP, a game on the line. Embrace that; love it. And our guys do.”
Chapman struck Altuve on three straight 101-mph fastballs with two runners on base to end the game, and New York got a key hit from rookie Gleyber Torres during a three-run rally in the ninth inning to seesaw past the Houston Astros 6-5.
The Yankees won a wild one to take three of four from the team that beat them in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series in October.
Astros closer Ken Giles, who punched himself in the face after a rough outing earlier in this series, didn’t pitch during New York’s late comeback.
Houston manager A.J. Hinch was asked why he didn’t use Giles, who hadn’t allowed a run in eight outings before giving up four runs on Tuesday.
“I thought (Will) Harris could get those guys out due to matchups,” he said.
New York took a 3-0 lead into the seventh, trailed 5-3 going into the ninth and let a bounced third strike give the Astros their final chance.
Pinch hitter Evan Gattis fanned but reached on Chapman’s two-out wild pitch that catcher Gary Sanchez couldn’t find near the plate, and George Springer followed with a single.
“I had full confidence that Chapman would come through there, and he really reached back for a little extra with Altuve — probably the best fastball hitter in the league,” Boone said. “Just a great job by Aroldis.”
Altuve went down swinging, giving Chapman his seventh save and the Yankees a 6-1 record on their road trip against the top two teams in the AL West.
Houston, which had been shut out two days in a row, scored four times in the seventh, and Carlos Correa added a solo homer in the eighth.
The Yankees loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth against Harris (1-2) on a walk and singles by Miguel Andujar and pinch hitter Aaron Hicks.
Brad Peacock came in, and Torres, who finished with three RBIS, hit a two-single to left that made it 5-all.
With one out, Aaron Judge chopped a grounder that third baseman Alex Bregman charged. Instead of trying to get Hicks at the plate, Bregman threw to second, hoping to start an inning-ending double play.
Altuve caught the ball for the forceout but dropped it as Torres slid in. Hicks scored for a 6-5 lead.