The Yankees just keep winning.
Now at a season-high four games over .500, New York has won eight of its last 10 and 10 of its last 14 dating back to before the All-Star Game. And after trading closer Aroldis Chapman, the timing seems a bit late for the Yankees to truly become buyers.
C.C. Sabathia returned to his early-season form Tuesday, going 6.2 innings and giving up just two runs — both solo homers — on four hits while walking two and striking out five. The hefty lefty moved to 6-8 on the year, lowering his ERA to 3.95.
Sabathia’s counterpart, Doug Fister, did not fare as well. The Houston starter gave up all six runs on nine hits in just 4.2 innings.
With the Yankees continuing to perform well against other contenders, it remains to be seen whether or not general manager Brian Cashman will get the approval of ownership to continue the sell-off.
THE PLAY: TEX MIX (+.116 WPA)
The Yankees had fallen behind 1-0 early in Tuesday’s game thanks to a first inning home run by Marwin Gonzalez. But Mark Teixeira helped New York quickly flip the script. Tex doubled to center, putting runners on second and third with no outs, leading to a 2-run inning. The Yankees wouldn’t relinquish the lead.
TOP PERFORMERS
Yankees — Mark Teixeria: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2B
Astros — Marwin Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI
NOTES
— Jonathan Papelbon blew a save for the Nationals on Tuesday against the Indians, as Washington lost for the sixth time in its last eight games. If Heavenly Hal and the Yankees are still looking to #SellSellSell, Andrew Miller may very well end up in the nation’s capital by week’s end.
— Every Yankees starter notched a hit Tuesday night except for Brett Gardner, as New York tallied 13 hits against Houston pitching. Gardner’s 0-for-4 performance snapped a 9-game hitting streak.
— With Aroldis Chapman having been traded to the Cubs, Anthony Swarzak appears to be the frontrunner for seventh-inning man as Betances and Miller each move an inning later. Swarzak came in with a four-run lead in the seventh and gave up a home run, but the fact that Girardi trusted him in a close-ish game is likely a sign of things to come.
THE HIGHLIGHT: BETANCES ADJUSTS TO HIS NEW INNING
After Swarzak couldn’t get through the eighth, Betances came in to alleviate the damage. However, pitching in the unfamiliar eighth inning after being the seventh-inning man all season, Betances walked the next two batters and worked himself into a bases loaded jam. He ultimately escaped by freezing Jason Castro with an inside curveball.
UP NEXT
The Yankees wrap up their series with the Astros on Wednesday at 8:10 p.m. Masahiro Tanaka (7-2, 3.00 ERA) will face Lance McCullers (5-4, 3.33 ERA) as New York goes for the sweep.
Photo: Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports; Video: MLBAM
don’t sell out, a few bats and a pitcher, buy and or trade players with no up side, but that’s not as many as you think, they are proving that they have the talent and are finally putting the word team together