Houston Astros' Matijevic Walks Off Yankees to Open Second Half

J.J. Matijevic slapped an infield-single to walk off the New York Yankees in the first of two Thursday games.

Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

With two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth inning, J.J. Matijevic entered the box as the pinch-hitter for catcher Korey Lee. The lefty worked a 1-1 count before grounding a changeup to shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa. 

Kiner-Falefa — who singled in the tying run in the top of the inning — looked to find the last out at second but Gleyber Torres wasn't in position to close the frame. Bregman scored from third on the play as the Houston Astros topped the New York Yankees, 3-2. 

Bregman and Aledmys Díaz opened the ninth with back-to-back knocks to put two runners in scoring position. Yuli Gurriel struck out before Yordan Álvarez, fresh off the injured list, was tasked to pinch-hit for Mauricio Dubón. 

The Yankees didn't give the lefty a chance, intentionally walking him as he stepped to the plate. Chas McCormick followed Álvarez with a strikeout, leaving the bases juiced for Matijevic. 

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The Astros kickstarted their offense in the first with back-to-back bunt singles from José Altuve and Jeremy Peña. Alex Bregman singled home Altuve from second for the club's first run of the day.

In the second inning, Korey Lee doubled to left field to score Mauricio Dubón from first base after he walked two batters prior. Houston lashed 10 hits in the first of two games Thursday leaving seven runners on base.

Houston Astros Starting Pitcher Cristian Javier / Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

In his second start against the Yankees in 30 days, Cristian Javier battled command issues. The righty issued four walks and a hit batter in five innings of work while only striking out three.

Against the Yankees on June 25, Javier carved through 13 batters while entering Thursday with 44 strikeouts in his last 22 2/3 innings. But as he worked through five innings on 99 pitches, the righty surrendered only one run — a solo homer from DJ LeMahieu in the fifth — on two hits.

Javier stranded five base runners before Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek and Rafael Montero combined for three-scoreless frames. Stanek's clean seventh inning marked 26 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings which tied Will Harris' streak from 2016. Stanek's scoreless feat stretches 29 outings since April 29.

With Ryan Pressly on the paternity list, manager Dusty Baker handed the ball to Héctor Neris for the ninth. With two outs, Neris induced a ground ball from Kiner-Falefa to the left side which slipped through Peña and Bregman. Aaron Hicks scored from second which tied the game late. 

The Astros return to action at 5:40 p.m. in game two of the doubleheader. Luis García toes the rubber with Domingo Germán to close out the season series. 

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