Yanks laugh as they tee off on their longtime rival JV.
In the series opener at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night, the Bronx Bombers hammered Verlander for seven runs, the most they have scored in a game against the Astros’ ace since he moved to Houston in 2017.
Since then, Verlander has been the Yankees’ worst enemy and a key player in the Yankees-Astros rivalry, which has grown over the past ten years to be among the most fierce in the league. The two teams have faced off three times in the postseason, with Houston prevailing each time.
With four of Verlander’s five starts versus the Yankees coming in October, Houston has defeated the Yankees, suggesting that Verlander had the Yankees beat throughout that stretch. Verlander has a 2.59 ERA in his 12 starts as an Astro against the Yankees. However, New York eventually reversed the roles on Tuesday.
“Look, I think we can pull this off,” stated manager Aaron Boone. It goes without saying that you won’t consistently have offensive nights like this, particularly when against a man like Justin. However, they are able to do that.”
The 41-year-old right-hander was hit by three home runs by the Yankees.In the first inning, Alex Verdugo ignited the Bronx “Dawg Pound” with a three-run blast to right-center field.In the fourth, Anthony Volpe hit a skyscraper to the short porch in the opposite field. And in the fifth inning, Giancarlo Stanton put the finishing touches on the Yankees’ explosive play when he sent a 118.8 mph ball off Verlander into the left-center field bullpen.
“We had a really good plan and were really prepared going in, and when that translates into success on the field, that’s super encouraging,” Volpe stated. Of course, he’s a fantastic pitcher who should be in the Hall of Fame. However, many players have faced him, and some have had a great deal of success. All we wanted to do was venture out and show aggression.”
The two-run home run by Anthony Volpe (4)
Juan Soto’s three hits against Justin VerlanderVerdugo has even less experience against Verlander and the Astros. It’s his first season in pinstripes, and he’d faced Verlander only once in his career, last August with the Red Sox, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout. But he remembered what he saw.
“I just remember the fastball having a pretty good ride,” Verdugo said. “And I would always be under it, under it, under it. Today was just trying to be a little bit more on top of the ball, and hit lower line drives.”
The three-run home run by Alex Verdugo (5)
“Oh, man. Sometimes it’s a little bit humbling when you’ve got Judge up there, he’s looking down at me, and then you’ve got Stanton back right behind me,” Verdugo said, craning his neck to his right, then his left, as if he was staring up at the Yankees’ two giants. “I’m like the small guy in the group. But honestly, man, I love it. I really do.”
