N.Y. Yankees can’t overcome Houston

Justin Verlander helped pitch the Astros past NewYork Monday, slowing down the highest-scoring team.

NEWYORK » Justin Verlander tamed the Yankees again, slowing down the highest-scoring teamin the majors and pitching the Houston Astros past New York 5-1 Monday.

Verlander exited in the seventh inning with amajor league-best 1.11 ERA. J.D. Davis hit an early threerun homer and Jose Altuve had a solo drive, helping Houston win for the sixth time in eight games.

Closer Ken Giles, tagged Sunday as the Astros blewafive-run lead in the ninth at Cleveland, pitched the final inning and worked around a leadoff single.

Facing the only club in baseball that hasn’t been shut out this sea- son, Verlander (7-2) blanked the Yankees until Greg Bird hit a leadoff home run in the seventh.

As he left, Verlander took off his cap and waved it toward a solid contingent of Astros fans wearing bright orange behind the dugout.

Verlander has done this before against the Yankees, especially lately. He was the MVP of the AL Championship Series last October, going 2-0 and limiting New York to one run in 16 innings while striking out 21.

Earlier this month, Verlander pitched eight shutout innings against the Yankees and fanned 14. This time, Verlander allowed five hits in 6 2/3 innings, fanning five without a walk.

In 12 starts this year, the big righty has permitted only 10 earned runs.

Yet for all the heat Verlander brought to the plate, the best toss he made might’ve been a throw in the opposite direction. The Astros led 3-0 when the Yankees put runners at first and second with two outs in the second.

WithMiguel Andujar at the plate, Verlander pivoted and picked rookie Gleyber Torres off second base to escape.

Davis hit his first homer of the season, connecting in the second off Domingo German (0-3). Altuve, whose team-record run of 10 straight hits ended Sunday, added his fourth in the eighth.

Torres has been swinging a siz-

AP PHOTO/SETH WENIG Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday in NewYork.