Yanks still have no answer for Verlander

NEW YORK » Justin Verlander tamed the Yankees, then toyed with their fans.

Verlander slowed down the highest-scoring team in the majors, picking off a familiar opponent by pitching the Houston Astros past New York 5-1 Monday.

“I’ve had some success against them in the past,” he said. “Every day is a new day, especially going up against a lineup like that.”

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

When he left later in the inning with a major leaguebest 1.11 ERA, Verlander got a cheer from a solid contingent of Astros fans wearing bright orange behind the dugout — but even louder jeers from the local fans.

Verlander enjoyed the moment, taking off his cap and waving it toward the Bronx boobirds.

“Just having fun,” he said. “Yankees fans having fun with me, so I decided to have some fun back.”

Verlander said he was surprised — he seemed disappointed, in fact — that he didn’t draw more catcalls when his name was announced in pregame introductions.

“I’ve come to find here at Yankee Stadium it’s a term of endearment,” Verlander said. “So, thank you.”

J.D. Davis hit an early three-run 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 blew a five-run lead in the ninth at Cleveland, pitched the final inning and worked around a leadoff single.

Verlander has dominated the Yankees in his most recent outings. 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.

“You know you’re up against one of the game’s best,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “That said, I know we’re always in it. Even felt that way today.”

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.

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

“To be able to steal outs,” Verlander said, “those are game-changers.”

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. newcomer singled off Verlander, but got picked off.

Torres nonchalanted a throw from second base, and the errant toss set up Evan Gattis’ RBI single in the fourth — Torres flung his glove in the dugout when the inning was over. Torres also made two acrobatic catches ranging into shallow center field.

“I’ll be better tomorrow and try to do my job,” he said.