Yankees torch Justin Verlander, cruise to fifth straight win against struggling Astros
Remember when the Astros used to dominate the Yankees?
Those days sure seem to be over.
And Alex Verdugo is a big reason why.
After the Yankees opened the season with a four-game sweep in Houston, they slammed the Astros for a fifth straight time this year — and eighth straight dating back to last September — on Tuesday with a 10-3 win in The Bronx.
They’ve won four in a row for a third time this season, as well as five of their last six, to move back into a first-place tie with Baltimore in the division.
This victory was sparked by a pair of relative newcomers to the rivalry, with Verdugo taking Justin Verlander deep for a three-run homer in the bottom of the first.
The left fielder had three hits on the night.
“He’s been outstanding,’’ Aaron Boone said. “The guys love him in there [and] I think he loves it. We’re seeing the kind of player he is. He’s been a spark. He’s been excellent. He’s been clutch. And he definitely brings a little edge.”
All of it was on display Tuesday and Luis Gil did the rest, as the 25-year-old right-hander easily out-pitched Verlander.
Gil allowed just one run — and one hit — in six effective innings, although he walked four.
The lone hit was Kyle Tucker’s long homer to right field with one out in the top of the first.
He didn’t give up another hit before being removed after six innings and 97 pitches.
Verlander, meanwhile, looked every bit of his 41 years, as he gave up three homers and seven runs — all earned — in five innings.
The earned runs were his most allowed since 2017.
And the three homers were the most since the Yankees hit four against him on Sept. 1 of last season.
The right-hander was making his fourth start of the season after being sidelined in spring training by shoulder inflammation.
He was sharp in his first three outings, but the Yankees had his number early and often on Tuesday.
Verlander quickly got into trouble in the bottom of the first, as Juan Soto poked a single down the third-base line with one out and Aaron Judge walked.
Hitting cleanup — sandwiched between the 6-foot-7 Judge and 6-6 Stanton — the 6-0 Verdugo said he’s comfortable.
“Sometimes it’s a little bit humbling,’’ Verdugo said. “I’m the small guy in the group. I love [hitting fourth]. I feel like I add enough contact.”
He entered the game with limited experience against Verlander, 0-for-2 in his career, and immediately crushed the home run to right to put the Yankees up, 3-1.
The new fan favorite admired the homer before beginning his trot to first.
Verdugo ended the top of the sixth with a fine diving catch of a Jeremy Pena sinking liner to left.
Anthony Volpe, who added a homer, called Verdugo the “life” of the clubhouse and Verdugo is clearly enjoying his new home.
“I love it,” Verdugo said. “I couldn’t be happier here.”
Gil pitched around a pair of two-out walks in the third, but needed 30 pitches to get out of the inning. It was the only time Gil allowed multiple base runners in an inning.
The loss left Houston in a tie for last place in the AL West with the loss and it was easy to see why, despite their résumé.
“You don’t expect to see them in the standings where they are, but it’s baseball and it’s a stretch,’’ Boone said before the game, adding the Astros have several pitchers out with injuries. “You expect them to get it going at some point.”
That point wasn‘t Tuesday, as the Yankees continue to roll.
