Yankees Survive Houston Circus, Clinch Series vs. Astros

The New York Yankees battled through drama, errors, and late-game tension to secure a crucial series win over the Houston Astros. They closed out with an 8-4 victory on Thursday night.

Carlos Rodón pitched a strong game, the bullpen came through, and Trent Grisham smashed a milestone home run. The Yankees left Houston with more than just a win—they picked up some much-needed momentum in their chase for the AL East.

This hard-fought game had a bit of everything—big hits, defensive slip-ups, and even a few on-field controversies. It was definitely one of those nights you don’t soon forget.

Rodón’s Steady Hand Leads the Way

Carlos Rodón kept rolling, tossing six innings and giving up just one earned run. The Yankees have now won six straight games he’s started, which says a lot about how he’s been dealing lately.

Rodón’s fastball looked lively, and he got ahead in the count often. Astros hitters just couldn’t seem to settle in against him.

Astros’ Hot Bats Contained

Beating the AL West-leading Astros is never easy, especially with Yordan Alvarez on fire for the second straight night. He racked up another four-hit game, which is just ridiculous.

Still, Rodón and the bullpen managed to keep the rest of Houston’s lineup in check. That gave New York the breathing room it needed to go after Houston’s pitching.

Drama in the Late Innings

For a minute, it felt like the Yankees’ bullpen might unravel again. Houston put two men on in the seventh, and Jose Altuve stepped up with the crowd buzzing.

Fernando Cruz came in and fired a high fastball past Altuve for a massive strikeout. That kept New York hanging onto a one-run lead.

Grisham’s Milestone Homer

Trent Grisham didn’t waste any time making his mark. He launched a three-run homer in the eighth, blowing the game open and notching his 100th career home run.

It was a huge swing for a guy who’s bounced around the lineup this year. His power is still there when it counts.

Bednar’s Tightrope Save

David Bednar’s ninth inning wasn’t pretty, but it got the job done. He loaded the bases and then stared down the heart of Houston’s order.

Bednar struck out Carlos Correa and Christian Walker to end it, locking up the Yankees’ 78th win of the season. Not exactly textbook, but hey, a save’s a save.

Defensive Concerns Persist

Even with the win, the Yankees’ defense remains a headache. They committed three errors, and another was wiped out on review.

These mistakes keep popping up and could come back to haunt them as the postseason chase ramps up. You just can’t keep giving teams extra outs.

Controversy and Confrontations

This game got weird at times. There was a disputed catch by Ryan McMahon that left Astros fans and their dugout furious.

• Umpires took away Taylor Trammell’s bat for inspection, which led to a long, awkward delay and plenty of questions.
• There were also a couple of umpire huddles that stopped the game and cranked up the tension even more.

Stuff like that can rattle a team, but the Yankees held it together when it mattered.

McMahon Steps Up in Judge’s Quiet Series

Aaron Judge didn’t drive in a run all series, so Ryan McMahon picked up the slack. He put together a three-hit, three-RBI night, including a solo homer that gave the Yankees an early jolt.

This kind of depth is going to matter as the Yankees head into a tough stretch. Sometimes it’s the next man up who makes all the difference.

Looking Ahead to a Key AL East Battle

Thursday’s win bumps the Yankees up to 78-62. Now they’re just three games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East.

All eyes turn to Yankee Stadium for a huge three-game set starting Friday. The stakes? Couldn’t be higher, honestly.

The postseason race feels tighter every day. Every pitch and play is about to feel enormous.

The Yankees’ win over Houston wasn’t perfect. Still, it showed how this team can dig deep and deliver when it counts.

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