Álvarez, Bregman Lift Houston Astros Over Yankees for Doubleheader Sweep

The Houston Astros picked up their fifth win over the New York Yankees on the season in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Fresh off the injured list, the New York Yankees didn't give Yordan Álvarez the time of day in his lone plate appearance in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader, intentionally walking the lefty. But as the designated hitter started game two, the Yankees pitched to the league leader in OPS, and it didn't end well for New York.

Álvarez put the Astros on the board in the first with a solo homer into the Crawford Boxes. Four pitches later, Alex Bregman followed with his own home run, igniting the first back-to-back pose from Álvarez and Bregman in July.

The next inning, Álvarez and Bregman added insurance of their own. Álvarez doubled for the 12th time this season, plating home Martín Maldonado and Jeremy Peña. Bregman drove Álvarez home from second two pitches later as the Astros took a five-run lead after two frames.

Following three scoreless innings, Chas McCormick joined the party with an opposite field, two-run homer to give the Astros a five-run lead after the Yankees found two of their own in the third.

Houston Astros Starting Pitcher Luis García / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Luis García twirled five innings on 92 pitches before manager Dusty Baker gave his starter the hook. The Yankees' top of the order was due up in the sixth inning with a three-run lead.

García struck out six in his Thursday outing, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk. New York's lone runs off García came on a third inning Gleyber Torres' two-run blast.

Baker turned to 27th-man Brandon Bielak for the sixth. Bielak—who last appeared in the majors on June 18 against the Chicago White Sox at home—ate 3 1/3 innings of long-relief for the Astros.

The righty punched out four batters before unravelling in the top of the ninth. Bielak issued back-to-back singles to Isiah Kiner-Falefa and DJ LeMahieu, and with one out, Aaron Judge slammed a three-run homer to put the Yankees within two runs.

Rafael Montero relieved Bielak from there, picking up his second appearance of the day. The righty yielded a 3-2 single to Torres, bringing Matt Carpenter to the plate as the tying run. Carpenter rolled over to the left side, falling into a double play turned by Bregman.

From the @astros: Following tonight's game, RHP Brandon Bielak was returned to the Sugar Land roster and added to the major league taxi squad.

— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) July 22, 2022

After the game, Bielak was returned to Triple-A Sugar Land and added to the major league taxi squad, per Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston.

The Astros finished 5-2 against the Yankees during the regular season with their sights now set on a three-game set with the Mariners beginning at 9:10 p.m. Friday in Seattle. José Urquidy picks up his first start since the break against lefty Marco Gonzales. 

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