HOUSTON – The 2024 Houston Astros’ season is officially underway at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros are starting the year with a home series against the New York Yankees.
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After taking an early lead, the Astros failed to score a run in the final seven innings of the game. They fell to the Yankees, 5-4.
ASTROS FANS: Let us know how you’re feeling after the first look at the 2024 Astros!
FULL GAME SUMMARY
First Inning
Seventh-year pitcher Framber Valdez got the start for the Astros. His first batter of the year was Gleyber Torres, whom he struck out swinging with a full count. Next up, Juan Soto brought Valdez up to a full count as well, but he earned a walk after taking a curveball in the dirt. With Soto now at first, Judge smacked a ground ball to the left that was corralled by Alex Bregman around third, who turned a double play to end the inning.
VALDEZ: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
In the bottom of the first, Nestor Cortes struck out Jose Altuve swinging. Batting second, Yordan Alvarez recorded the first Astros’ hit of the season, smoking a single into center field. Kyle Tucker drew a walk to get Alvarez into scoring position. On the Astros’ next at-bat, Alex Bregman sent a pop-fly into left field for the second out. In Jose Abreu’s first plate appearance, he drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases, prompting an early mound visit for Cortes. With a full count, Chas McCormick smacked a dribbler into the gap at second base, bringing home two runs. Then, Yainer Diaz singled into right to bring home a third run. Jeremy Pena grounded out, but the Astros ended the frame up 3-0.
After the first inning: Astros 3, Yankees 0
Second Inning
Giancarlo Stanton grounded out to begin the second inning, but Anthony Rizzo was walked to put a Yankee on base. Anthony Volpe singled to bring Rizzo to second base. In his first plate appearance as a Yankee, Alex Verdugo singled into left to load the bases with just one out. Valdez got himself out of the jam, forcing a groundball to Pena at shortstop who turned a double play and ended the inning.
VALDEZ: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K
Jake Meyers was first at the plate, and he belted a solo home run into left field to make it a 4-0 ballgame. Next up, Altuve popped out to second, and Alvarez flied out in centerfield. Tucker struck out looking to end the inning.
After the second inning: Astros 4, Yankees 0
Third Inning
Valdez struck out Oswaldo Cabrera swinging to start the third. Torres grounded out in his second appearance and Soto struck out looking. A quick third inning for Framber.
VALDEZ: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Bregman batted first in the third for Houston, grounding out to short. Abreu flied out to the left, and McCormick flied to right to wrap up an uneventful third.
After the third inning: Astros 4, Yankees 0
Fourth Inning
Judge was walked to begin the fourth inning. Stanton reached first on a single, with Judge moving to second. Rizzo lined out to right field, which allowed Judge to advance to third. Volpe was walked to load the bases with one out for the second time today for New York. Unfortunately for the Yanks, it had the same result. Verdugo grounded into a double play that ended the inning. The Yankees miss another opportunity.
VALDEZ: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 K
Diaz grounded out to third to start the fourth for the ‘Stros. Jeremy Pena doubled into centerfield for his first hit of the season. Nothing came of it, though, as Meyers and Altuve both struck out swinging.
After the fourth inning: Astros 4, Yankees 0
Fifth Inning
Valdez faced Trevino first, and he was walked on five pitches. Cabrera singled and brought Trevino to second after Pena just barely missed a ground ball that likely would have been a double play. Torres was walked to load the bases a third time for New York, this time with no outs. This time, they would capitalize, as Soto singled to bring home a run and reload the bases. Framber struck out Judge and Stanton to earn some breathing room, but Rizzo was hit by a pitch to bring home another run. This ended Framber’s night at the mound.
Seth Martinez entered in relief. The first batter he faced was Volpe, who he walked in just four pitches to bring home the third run of the inning. With a 3-1 count, Martiez finally stopped the bleeding, forcing a ground out to first from Verdugo.
VALDEZ: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 6 BB, 5 K
MARTINEZ: 0.1 IP, 1 BB
Alvarez grounded out to first as Rizzo just barely beat him to the bag, and Tucker went down swinging for the second out. Bregman flied out to center to wrap up another dull offensive inning for Houston.
After the fifth inning: Astros 4, Yankees 3
Sixth Inning
Rafael Montero came in to begin the sixth inning on the mound for Houston. After Trevino lined out to right field, Cabrera clobbered a solo home run to tie things up at four. Torres and Soto both grounded out to end the frame, but the offensive damage was done.
MONTERO: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 HR
Cortes’ night ended, and Jonathan Loaisiga entered the game in relief. Abreu was the first batter he faced, and he forced a ground out. McCormick fouled out, but Diaz reached first on a single. Pena also singled, and Diaz was able to advance to third. The ‘Stros were unable to capitalize, as Jon Singleton grounded out to first.
After the sixth inning: Astros 4, Yankees 4
Seventh Inning
Ryan Pressly was the fourth pitcher to enter the game for Houston. Judge welcomed him to the mound with a double to left field. Stanton grounded out, but Rizzo singled to move Judge to third base. Volpe walked to load the bases once again for New York. Verdugo brough Judge home with a sacrifice fly into deep left field. Pressly was able to limit the damage by striking out Trevino swinging.
PRESSLY: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Altuve led off in the seventh inning, reaching first on a single up the middle. Alvarez and Tucker both flied out, but Bregman singled to bring Altuve to second base. With a runner in scoring position. Abreu struck out swinging.
After the seventh inning: Astros 4, Yankees 5
Eighth Inning
Pressly’s night ended after one inning, and Tayler Scott entered to begin the inning. He made quick work of the first two bats, as Cabrera grounded out and Torres flied out. Soto walked, but Judge struck out swinging to conclude the frame.
Scott: 1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K
Ian Hamilton took the bump as the third pitcher for New York. He first faced McCormick, who struck out swinging on a full count. Next up was Singleton, who reached first on an infield single. Just when the Astros’ offense had some momentum brewing, Pena grounded into a double play to end the inning.
After the eighth inning: Astros 4, Yankees 5
Ninth Inning
Josh Hader entered the game for his first close as an Astro. He delivered right away, striking out Stanton Rizzo and Volpe to end the frame with no action.
Hader: 1.0 IP, 3 K
Clay Holmes took the mound for New York in the ninth. Mauricio Dubon registered a leadoff single to get an Astro on base. Altuve lined out after breaking his bat, but Alvarez singled to advance Dubon to second. Tucker singled, and Dubon raced for home plate, but a review determined that he was tagged out while sliding home to keep the score at 5-4. Bregman grounded out to shortstop to end the game.