Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium featured a midweek slugfest between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees, with the Yankees scoring 12 runs in the first three innings en route to a 16-6 win.
The Yankees offense scored early and often on Astros starter Collin McHugh, who allowed six runs (five earned) in just one third of an inning. New York scored three runs in the second and three more in the third to take a 12-5 lead after three.
Starlin Castro went 4-for-5 with one run scored and five RBI while Mark Teixeira went 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBI. Both Castro and Teixeira homered for the Yankees, hitting three-run blasts in the second and third innings respectively.
Michael Pineda surrendered eight hits and six earned runs in five innings of work, allowing three home runs in the process. Four of those earned runs came on one swing from George Springer in the second inning; it was the first grand slam Pineda has given up in his career.
The Play: Castro’s three-run home run in the second (+.216 WPA)
With two outs and runners on first and second, Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro bombed a second-inning home run to give the Yankees a 9-5 lead at the time. The homer scored both Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran.
The three-run home run also gave the Yankees breathing room again after Houston’s George Springer hit a grand slam in the top of the inning to cut New York’s lead to 6-5.
Top Performers:
Yankees – Starlin Castro (4-for-5, HR, 5 RBI), Mark Teixeira (2-for-4, 2 R, 4 RBI)
Astros – George Springer: (1-for-4, Grand Slam off Pineda with two outs in second), Carlos Correa (4-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI)
The Quote
“Castro is playing tee ball right now.” – Carlos Beltran, on Starlin Castro’s 5-for-8 start to the season
Notes
– With four RBIs on Wednesday night, newcomer Starlin Castro became the first player in Yankees history with seven RBI in his first two games with the team.
– Castro (4 hits) and Didi Gregorius (3 hits) are the first Yankees’ starting middle infield duo to record at least three hits apiece since Aug. 18, 2013 when the Robinson Cano and Eduardo each had three against Boston.
– Chase Headley picked up a first-inning steal, his first stolen base since Sept. 10, 2014 vs Tampa Bay.
– The 16 runs scored by the Yankees was the most in a single game since August 30, 2015 in a 20-6 win over Atlanta.
Starlin Castro: The fourth Yankee w/at least 7 RBI in his first 2 games since 1913: Tino Martinez ('97), Yogi Berra ('56), Babe Ruth ('32).
— Lohud Yankees Blog (@LoHudYankees) April 7, 2016
The Highlight: The Yankees score six in the first inning
Next Up
The Yankees host the Astros in the third and final game of this season-opening series on Thursday, April 7 at 4:05 pm ET at Yankee Stadium. Mike Fiers will get the start for Houston while Nathan Eovaldi will make his season debut for New York.
Lead photo: Adam Hunger/USA Today Sports