Red Hot Yankees Pound Astros, take series in Houston

YANKEES 6, ASTROS 5

Two weeks ago the Yankees were 9-9. Nobody was doing anything right. In the eyes of Yankee fans, Aaron Boone was a fool; Giancarlo Stanton was a waste; the team was falling apart.

Since that time, the Yankees are 12-1 in their last 13 games, and find themselves at 21-10, just 1.5 games out of first place in the AL East. Two weeks ago they were seven back. That is why you can never count out any team, especially one as talented as the Yankees.

Thanks to rookie Gleyber Torres, the Yankees defeated the defending Champion Houston Astros 6-5, taking three of four and sending a huge message to the rest of baseball: The Yankees are coming.

It wasn't easy on Thursday. The Yankees built an early 3-0 lead only to watch Mashairo Tanaka and the bullpen blow it in the seventh inning as Houston plated five runs in the frame to take a 5-3 lead.

Even if the Yankees had lost, the message was still sent, having shutout the Astros 4-0 in on Tuesday and Wednesday night, and swept the Anaheim Angels during the weekend, the Yankees are on fire and are flashing all the potential everyone thought they had when the season began.

Now fast forward to the ninth inning, Neil Walker walked and Miguel Andujar singled to move Walker to second. Aaron Boone then went to his bench and called up Aaron Hicks to keep the momentum going and the platoon outfielder did just that, slapping a single to left-center to load the bases.

With all the pressure on his 21-year old shoulders, Gleyber Torres stuck out the front of his bat and made contact, looping the ball into shallow left to score Andujar and Walker to tie the game at five. After Brett Gardner grounded out, Aaron Judge's fielder's choice brought home the winning run when Torres ran hard into shortstop Jose Altuve.

Finally in the bottom of the ninth inning, Aroldis Chapman shut the door on the 'Stros when he struck out Altuve swinging with the tying and go-ahead run on base.

With the win, the Yankees completed an improbable 6-1 West Coast road trip, and are 12-1 in their last 13. While the pitching has been suspect at times, offensively the Yankees are clicking. Didi Gregorious is killing it with 10 homers and 30 RBI; he was named offensive player of the month for April.

Since his promotion from Triple-A, Torres is hitting .317 with five RBI and 13 hits, which is among the best in baseball in the last 12 games.

Miguel Andujar is also smoking right now with an average up to .284 with three homers and 12 RBI. All of this while Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge are still trying to get their bats going.

Oh, and don't forget Gary Sanchez, who exercised his Houston demons when he blasted a three run bomb earlier in this series.

Two weeks ago the Yankees were seven out of first place in the AL East. Tonight they are just 1.5 games out, and will host the Cleveland Indians on Friday night at the Stadium. Watch out folks, the Yankees are coming.