Yankees Implosion in Houston Emblematic of Season

 ASTROS 8 - YANKEES 7 

Just when it looked like the Yankees were on their way to start digging out of the hole they spent the better part of 3-1/2 months buried themselves in, the Astros decided to throw the dirt right back on them. And of course, the hero at the end of the day for Houston was none other than Jose Altuve. 

 

The Yankees had a 7-2 lead. They were on their way to an impressive sweep of the first place Astros in Houston, after impressive 4-0 and 1-0 victories on Friday and Saturday nights. The Yankees appeared heading into the All Star Break on a head full of steam. 

Until they weren't. 

You can get on the Yankees all you want for hitting 3-for-16 with RISP and stranding 14 men on base, but the facts are they carried a 7-2 lead into the ninth inning and couldn't get the job done. 

With Aroldis Chapman basically relegated to mop up duty because the team lost faith in his abilities after he watched his ERA skyrocket the last month whenever he was called upon to shut it down, Aaron Boone put all of his eggs into the basket of Domingo German and Chad Green. Big mistake. 

German gave up two hits to start the ninth before Boone went to Green who just didn't have it. 

He gave up a two-run double to Chas McCormick, and a RBI double to Abraham Toro. Suddenly 7-2 was now 7-5. Panic was in full bloom, and the Yankees didn't even blink when it was obvious someone else needed to be pitching. 

Two batters later, and Yankee-killer Jose Altuve came up to the dish and destroyed the second pitch he saw for a three-run homer to left. He even ripped his shirt off this time heading for home as a direct shot at the Yankees who believed Altuve was wired up when he had a similar moment against Chapman two years ago in the playoffs. 

There was no sweep. Just another tough reminder that this Yankees team is flawed and overall not very good as the break hits.