On Tuesday, New York Yankees right fielder Juan Soto had his fourth three-hit game of the season, but after carrying the team offensively in the first few weeks, Soto has since received plenty of support. The Yankees defeated the visiting Houston Astros 10-3 in the first game of a three-game series that continues Wednesday, with Soto contributing to the devastation. He had three singles and scored two runs, helped by left fielder Alex Verdugo’s three-hit game, which included a home run and four RBIs. Anthony Volpe also homered and had three RBIs.
The Yankees have won five of their past six games, with their lineup depth at the forefront of that success.
“It takes every single guy to win a ballgame,” said Soto, who went three for four. “I think we’ve been doing that lately and we’ve been feeling great, and I hope we can keep that all the way until the end.” The Yankees’ projected starter for Wednesday is left-hander Carlos Rodon (2-2, 3.68 ERA). In a 7-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, he allowed a season-high seven runs (six earned) on eight hits, three of which were home runs, and struck out six in four innings. Rodon had not allowed more than three runs in any of his six prior starts.
Rodon is 3-0 with a 2.47 ERA in ten career starts versus the Astros. He did not figure into the Yankees’ 7-1 away victory over Houston on March 29, surrendering one run on five hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings with four strikeouts.
The Astros’ starting pitcher will be rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (0-3, 8.27). Arrighetti had the greatest start of his short career against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six over a season-high 5 2/3 innings. He was not a factor in the 8-2 triumph. Arrighetti, who made his major league debut on April 10 against the Kansas City Royals, will be making his first career appearance against the Yankees.
After winning back-to-back series against the Colorado Rockies and Guardians, as well as the first game of a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners, the Astros had lost three straight games, squandering their first bit of positive momentum.
With the loss to the Yankees, Houston plummeted to 11 games under.500, trailing the Mariners and Texas Rangers by seven games. While the Astros are regaining some of the health they lost during the first month of the season, their postseason chances will continue to erode as long as they remain around the bottom of the division rankings. However, when asked on MLB Network if he could envisage a situation in which the Astros give up this season and sell at the trade deadline, Astros general manager Dana Brown dismissed the concept.
“No. “No, I can’t see that,” Brown replied. “I think this team is too good. We have a tremendously excellent rotation and bullpen. Our bats are off to a slow start. I believe that production will begin soon. I think our guys are true pros and good footballers. I cannot envision any situation in which we would become sellers. “I believe the team is too good.”If guys start turning it up, good things will happen.”
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