Smith: Yankees still have Astros problems

It was again perfect for the Astros with New York down to one out in the top of the ninth and the Yankees again looking like the lesser team against Houston’s MLB club.  

Then it was tension, pure nerves and jaw-clenching tightness. 

All the local Yanks supporters erupted inside Minute Maid Park. Astros 2-1 suddenly became tied at 2. 

Minutes later, orange-and-blue believers took back their stadium, re-electrifying with Alex Bregman’s leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth and collectively partying on a Thursday afternoon as J.J. Matijevic became the first game’s breakthrough hero.  

“They’ve been playing the Yankees tough before I got here,” said Astros manager Dusty Baker, after his team captured the initial battle of a doubleheader 3-2 and improved to 4-2 overall versus New York this season. 

Advantage: Astros. Again.

More from Brian T. Smith

The Yankees are the Astros’ best rival.  

The Astros continue to be the better team when it truly matters. 

What started in October 2015 inside a deflated Yankee Stadium continued Thursday inside an electric Minute Maid Park.  

What was reinforced in late June — the Astros’ annual supremacy over the Yanks — reappeared at the start of a doubleheader as back-to-back bunts, Korey Lee, four bullpen arms and Matijevic guided the home team to another victory over New York. 

Nevermind that Matijevic is a rookie hitting .171 and Lee is a rookie backup catcher.

The standings still say that the Yankees (64-29) are the stronger club in 2022.  

Recent history and big-picture reality keep highlighting the Astros (60-32), who kept narrowing the gap and pulled within 3 ½ games of New York for the best mark in the American League. 

Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker and Nolan Ryan jerseys decorated the entrance to the downtown ballpark, while Houston battled with another 100-degree day.  

Inside: Refreshingly cool professionalism.  

Aaron Judge was booed during pregame introductions. Then the 2017 AL MVP runner-up was really booed during his initial at-bat, as Cristian Javier continued to no-hit the Yankees and a gradually filled stadium soaked up everything that comes with playing the Astros’ premier opponent. 

New York wasted a no-out, bases-loaded threat in the top of the third.  

Baker’s crew started its attack with brilliant back-to-back bunts that became a buzzing 1-0 lead. Lee then made it 2-0 home team by lining a double down the third-base line. The Astros’ No. 9 hitter initially did more damage than all of New York’s bats combined – the Yanks were still stuck with a single hit entering the fifth.  

Javier attempted to pitch to the moment, shaking off four early walks to keep New York out of the run column.  

Sharp defense, timely hitting and seeing the greater good inside the box once again had the Astros ahead of New York.  

On the outside, it was another scorching day in our big city. How can you sweat this much before August has even arrived?  

On the inside, at least 18 innings of Yankees-Astros waited in a hopeful AL Championship Series preview.   

It took almost an hour to make it through two complete frames. The Astros began 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position yet still held a two-run advantage. Jeremy Peña, Altuve and Lee were wildly cheered by a mostly orange-and-blue crowd that took the afternoon off to watch the AL’s best overall team in person. 

“Now, ladies and gentlemen, your 2022 Houston Astros,” was proudly announced at 12:09 p.m. A few minutes later, Javier walked DJ LeMahieu and the board briefly tilted in the Yankees’ favor.   

Then Judge was universally booed, a “Let’s go Astros” chant echoed and the best sounds of summer took over the stadium. Clapping, pounding, cheering, screams and more clapping.  

Javier hit Judge, cranking 10 to 11.   

Matt Carpenter, who’s rediscovered the power of baseball in pinstripes, lifted a long foul down the right-field line. Tucker waited, timed his leap and gloved the final out of the first. When Tucker, who recently enjoyed his first All-Star Game appearance in Los Angeles at Dodgers Stadium, spent a little extra time working his way out of the netting, the home believers cheered even louder and the doubleheader was officially on.

Yankees supporters first rediscovered their pride in the fifth when LeMahieu lifted a solo shot into right field that barely stayed fair.   

Bullpen chess began as the tension mounted.   

Phil Maton safely made it through the sixth.  

Ryne Stanek, who should have been an All-Star, reached 26 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings by smoothly firing through the seventh. His first out also captured the series and the rivalry. Marwin Gonzalez, a fan favorite in the Astros’ A.J. Hinch era and a member of Baker’s 2021 World Series team, was erased by Stanek while Astros and Yankees chants battled in the outfield stands.    

Rafael Montero did his job. Héctor Neris did the same for two outs. Then Bregman, Aledmys Díaz and Matijevic put New York away for the fourth time in six games. 

The Astros are a different and better team when they play the Yankees.  

The American League, as it did in 2017, 2019 and 2021, still runs through Houston.