 We are under the lights as the show gets you ready for another edition of Major League Baseball. Coming up we've got a good match up in store between the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros. Who's going to win this showdown between these two? Find out next. Justin Verlander, a Virginia-born right-hander, gets the ball to start this one. What do we need to know here, Danny? Hey, man, if he, this ought to be a lot of fun. This guy won the Cy Young Award last year in the AL, so he knows how to pitch. And one of the things he does effectively, he attacks the strike zone. And if he does that, he should be fun to watch in this one. At the plate, Brett Gardner, and we are set for baseball here this evening. Leaving off tonight for the Yankee, the designated hitter, Brett Gardner. Here comes the first pitch. First pitch, stick go five. Into the wind-up, here comes the O and one. Behind O and two now. Nothing in two count and the pitch. Two high, one and two. Good night for baseball, 69 degrees here at first pitch. A fastball awfully close, but he doesn't get the call. It's two and two now. He started this guy backwards, couple of off-speed pitches early, followed by back-to-back heaters. He can go either way he wants to go right now. Now a swing and a miss on the fastball, then the leadoff man is set down here for the first out of the evening. I really liked it. He gave up nibbling out of the zone trying to get him to chase. That wasn't working, so he just reached back and fired a good old country hardball fastball right by him. No better feeling in the world when you're a pitcher than throwing a fastball right by a guy. And that sends DJ LeMayhew into the box. And as the first pitch to him runs a bit inside for Bowl One. And, fellows, these Astros entering play here tonight have got to be considered one of, if not the hottest team in baseball right now. Winners of eight of their last ten ball games. What an opportunity to get a chance to put our eyeballs on one of the best teams in baseball right now. This team has played so well. Their manager has been on point. Every move he makes is working, timely hitting, great defense, good bullpen. The starters have been on point. This is going to be special. Outside, three and oh now. His line against Justin Verlander. He's a 3-33 hitter, five for 15. He's taken him deep once. A 3-0. Smoke toward the hole. And that'll find its way into right field for a one-out single. There's a danger of falling behind 3-0. You don't know which guys in the lineup outside the middle of the order are going to pull the trigger in a spot like that. Aaron, he was one of them. 3-0 swing in a bat, aggressive hack, nice base hit. Aaron Judge. And he's really been feeling it at the plate the last week or so. Definitely one player to keep your eye on right now. First pitch on its way from Verlander. And he takes a cold strike, 0-1. A good fastball above the belt is normally a pitch that batters love to take a rip at, but that one froze him. Fastball here, not close and it's 1-1 now. And there are the umpires assigned to this one. Balls and strikes belong to Mr. Jerry Hillsdale. Dero, Jerry Hillsdale might be one of the more solid everyday umpires in the league right now. Yeah, I think he's one of the best in the business, Dan. High praise all around. You go into both meetings with the managers and what do they do they rave about Jerry Hillsdale? Set and the 2-1 pitch. LeMayhew leads off second with one gun in the inning. Still 2-2. Working for the punch out and the offering. And this pitch is swung on and missed and the AL's leading hitter is set down on strikes two away. Got him with a good high fastball there. Danny, we see a lot of that pitch in strikeout situations these days. What makes it so effective? I think Mattwood makes it such a tough pitch as you're changing eye levels. That fastball up looks so enticing to hit that you think you see that ball as a hitter. You think you can drive it but it's really hard to get on top of that good high hard fastball. Ball one. Opportunity for him here to pick up that runner from second with two away. Ball on a strike. One and one. Swing and a miss on a pitch outside. One and two now. These are the moments right here. You got a good pitcher on the mound. You don't know if these opportunities are going to present themselves throughout the course of the game. You have to capitalize in this situation. And it's fouled away. Two out base runner aboard in the top of the first. Too much bite on the breaking ball that time as it's well off the outside. Now this guy's a grinder, fouls off good pitches and doesn't seem to swing at the ones just off the corner. This guy's a pitcher's nightmare. He's fouled off. Offer on that one and Berlander's run at full now three and two. You can certainly tell at bats like this one frustrate the heck out of a pitcher. But you got to find a way to stay composed and execute your plan. This one's down to third. Onto the first baseman Brielle and that will end the inning. So they get a man to second here in the opening half inning but fail to capitalize. Now the Astros will get their first opportunity. No score. The California born right-hander is on the mound. Dan, please act. What's the word on him? Hey, you take a look at this guy's ERA. Any ERA under four is pretty good in this day and age of baseball. When we have all these high scoring high flying affairs, this guy knows how to pitch. He knows how to control the running game. And most importantly, he's not afraid to throw strikes. We'll see how he does in this one. No left field there. Striding into the box, Michael Brantley will leave things off here in the bottom half of the first. Infield in the over shift here, now the pitch. And he just misses inside with the fastball there. And as the Yankees get started here tonight, guys, they came up a little short last time out, but they've still been one of the hotter teams around winning eight of their last 10 ball games. Yeah, Maddy, taking a look at the standings right here. This team has a nice lead, comfortable. You always want to find yourself in a position where you're about five to nine games. Got the advantage. One series isn't going to totally kill you in the standings. And this team's sitting pretty right now. The fastball in here to get the count back to two and one. Let's get it going, boys. Somebody's loose, hitting 98 with ease in the first inning. Now the two, one. There's a swing and a drive hit well out to right field. Boom goes the dynamite. So it's a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the first. Home run number five on the year. And the Astros take a one to nothing lead. Yeah, we always talk about how important it is to spot your starter or run it to early in the game. And he does just that blasting and no doubt found that serves notice. They're going to be swinging with the wood here. No better way to get the home crowd into it right out of the gates. That'll bring up Alex Brickman. As the first pitchers have been high, it's ball one. He enters play with 14 home runs to his credit this year. Two and oh now. Looks like that bomb earlier in the inning kind of put this picture on the defensive. That being very aggressive right now. A little tardy on that swing as it's well wide at first. The two, one home. Jose Altuve is on deck, three and two. That was some gas. Triple digits on the radar gun. Now the three and two pitch. And now here's a ball hit pretty well out toward right center field. Judge moves to his right and puts this one away in the alley for at number one. Batting third. The second baseman. Jose Altuve. Here's the second baseman Jose Altuve. And he really thrives in the batter's box here at home. Something to keep an eye on in this one. First pitch of the at bat. Fastball here too low and it's one and oh. Now pitch on the way. Had to be sitting something hard right there because he gave up on that pitch. But it was right down the chute. Two balls and a strike to Jose Altuve. I don't blame him for not coming over the heart of the plate. He circled this guy on the lineup card when he got to the yard today. He's been swinging one of the hotter bats in the game. The two one is taken ball three. Jordan Alvarez is on deck. Just behind the fastball there two strikes now. That was some smoke right there. High fire right on by the three to pitch. And he misses ball four. Man that's just painful for a pitcher right there. A three that was right on the corner. But he couldn't get him to chase and he doesn't get the call. Can't beat yourself up about that with too much. Next will be the designated hitter. Jordan Alvarez. He's headless in the first two games of the series 0 for 8. Has a look now the pitch. First pitch fastball swung on and missed 0 and 1. That was a pretty good fastball after he walked the hitter previous. There was a little angry on that heater gets the fastball by him here and he's in control 0 and 2. That's just too much velocity upstairs to get good wood on it. It's going to have to lower his sights looking for the strikeout. Here's the 0 2 pitch. Swing and a miss look like the knuckle curve there and that's out number two. Well that's just a quality pitch right there. The location was actually because if it's put in play. The first big good chance it's on the ground for a double play and hey a strikeout always works too. Now the Cuban import Yuli Gurriel. As he takes a cold strike at the knees its own one. He takes his first cuts in this one with a man at first and two away finds the target nothing in two now. Well you can see he's coming right at this guy just pounding the ball in the strike zone. He certainly has the advantage now. This guy hasn't even swung the bat yet. Oh now here's a drive out to the alley. They'll extend their lead here as the runner scores from first. I guess their scouting reports on this guy were dead on because it's already two nothing in the early going and they're having absolutely no trouble seeing him here. On the other side they're very quickly looking at a game that they're going to have to fight back in. He's standing in George Springer and as you take a look at the splits here he's actually better against right handed pitching this season. Here's the first offering. I think this inning could have far reaching effects in this game they're really making him work and unless he dials it in it's probably going to limit how deep he goes into this game. Well this is starting to feel like a make or break moment in this game. When you're playing a first place team you can't expect to fall way behind early in the game and then mount a comeback. And he started to go around there and it'll cost him as they say he did swing the bat. It's two and one kicks and deals. Runner in scoring position at second with two down and the inning goes away in unceremonious fashion on a swing and a miss at a ball way outside the strike zone. So it's two runs on two hits no errors in a runner left will go on to the top of any number two. The Astros lead it two to nothing. Coming to the plate now. Mike Tuckman really got to get us started in the top of the second. Hey we're still in the early stages of this one. They're only down by a couple of runs but it's really key for this lead off guy to try to get on and get a big inning started. First pitch on its way from Verlander the wind up and the 0 1 fastball swung on and missed for the first out didn't mess around much in that at bat down. No that was pretty impressive. Matt I really like the picture that trust and works off this fastball right there. He decided he didn't need to use anything else three straight heaters and go grab some bench. Stepping in now Gary Sanchez as he looks at a fastball that misses off the plate for ball one. He'll check in here at two seventy seven thirteen home runs and 30 RBI's the 1 0 a swing and a miss. That's the first strike. Skied in the air to straight away left. Grant Lee is under it. Two down. Patty Patty the third baseman Gio Urshela in now Gio Urshela and he comes in as a player to watch out for hitting well over 300 on the season. First offering on its way and a high strike there 0 1 1. Very rarely does a pitcher like this leave one in a location like that. That's a pitcher right there. He'd like to have back. He'd love to swing at that one again. The 0 1. Yank the slider across that time laid off for a ball. Hey a two out walk right here would be the tying run to the plate even though it's early on you got a guy on deck that has a lot of pop hits this one hard the other way. You'll you'll take this one himself and that ends the inning. So they go down without a whimper here. We'll go to the bottom half of ending number two. It's the Astros two and the Yankees nothing. So next to swing the bat will be Carlos Correa nine at bats in the series and four base hits. One of the keys to securing a win. They want to keep the press run and try to build that lead as much as they can moving into the later innings. First delivery to him on the way. Now a check swing here but the home foot umpire says he went around and no argument in its one and one. Here it comes. Yeah he just isn't that sharp on the mound right now had a rough start in the first inning and now he's falling behind out of the gate here in the second. Some adjustments need to be made and fast. Astros shortstop in front with a three and one count. He walked a guy back in the first and now he's looking like he might hand out another free pass to the leadoff guy here. You can't be walking a guy in inning and think you're going to have any success. Into his motion. Here comes the three and one strike two called and it's full three and two a pretty aggressive pitch right there up in the zone. Surprised he didn't offer at it into the wind up ready with the payoff pitch swing and a miss on the fastball and that's the first out batting game. So here's Josh Redick two hits and eight tries for the series ready ready waiting and now the pitch ball that's out one out nobody on breaking ball that time that misses out of the zone. Well we all know he's not the greatest threat with the bat up there. His numbers certainly aren't that pretty. But hey I give him credit. He's really working to count right here three and oh now well he knows it but this is the kind of guy you just have to go right after. He's not the biggest threat with the bat. So it's time to challenge him right here and he misses here for ball four already two walks surrendered in his first couple of innings of work. We knew coming into this game that this guy has a tendency to give up a lot of free passes and history repeats itself as he's already given up two walks here. I'll tell you effectively wild is a pretty tough thing to be. So striding forward now Garrett stops first shot with him here with a runner at first now and one away behind 0 and two now really pulled that one across as the slider misses well inside. That's a great take right there great pitch recognition to let that one go opposite handed that's coming across the plate you might think you got a shot to stay inside that one that's lifted the other way out to left. Stanton has a read on it makes the play and there are two gone now now batter the left fielder Michael Brent Lee. So it's a runner at first with two gone and that brings in the left handed hitting outfielder Michael Brent Lee. Yeah Matt that last that bat that was a pretty good pitch a fastball down in a way that he went out and hooked and pulled it. So if I'm on the mound right now I'm going to have to think about throwing one up and in and standing this guy up to make that outside corner not as appealing comes set with the 0 and 1 strike 2. He's looking pretty passive here hitting with a chance to drive it a run going to have to make something happen with two strikes now and I don't know until he misses with a fastball. Those were two great executed pitches right there away from this batter. He can hurt you in a heartbeat. I don't think anything's going to leak out over the heart of the plate. Full sets. Here it is on a ball and two strikes a swing and a miss as he chased with two strikes and that will retire the side. Some of our nation's young minds and future leaders here in attendance. Yikes. Back with more Sunday night baseball following this. That'll bring up Glaber Tore's couple of hits for him in four trips in yesterday's game. Labor. Tore. First pitch on its way. Count 1 and 0 to wind up and the 1 0 pitch. Now a ball crushed high in the air deep to left way back there and that one is long gone. A solo shot here to left home run number nine on the year and the Yankees are on the board. It's now a two one ball game. This guy has been a serious thorn in the side of the staff homering twice in three days. The numbers don't lie. He owns these guys right now and that'll bring up Tyler Wayne. So weighed out a breaking pitcher that finds the zone for strike one. He'll start this one at 269 one home run and 11 RBI's into the wind up. Here comes the 0 and 1 ball one in one. No outs nobody on tries to change up on him there but it's a ball two and one to two and two now pitch on the way. Look like he tried to elevate a fastball in that 2 2 pitch there but kind of overdid it with a pitch that high. It's pretty easy to lay off if you're the hitter and he fouls this one off bases are empty here. Nobody out swing and he popped him up over in foul territory back behind third. Bregman is over and he puts it away for the first time. And with that let's take a moment to show you what's happening in the American League's Western Division. Here's Brett Gartner now 0 for one here in the early going ready with the first pitch. Here it comes. Good fastball as he gets the swing and a miss. Hey if you're able to blow a first pitch fastball by a guy got to believe that pitch is coming again right here. Hit back up the middle and that's through for a hit boy so frustrating as a pitcher you make a quality pitch on the inside out of the plate right there. The first try to bust him in D. Rowney fights it off the other way. Yeah you tip your hat to the pitcher right there he executed his pitch but nice job by the offensive player fighting. It doesn't matter what it looks like a knock's a knock here's the second baseman DJ LeMay here a pitch out the throw and just great defensive baseball there as they will nail him at second on the pitch out. All that's nowhere near the zone it's 2 and 0 now down low and the plot thickens here 3 and 0. Now with the base is empty I think he needs to be careful not to just groove one here just because it's 3 and 0. He's a guy that could ambush you and lose one over the wall. There's ball for now batting white fielder airing. So we're at first here with Sougon and the inning and that will bring up the big bat of Aaron judge from the stretch 1 0. Hey I know the tying runs at first right here but if the pitcher on the mound executes keeps the ball in play I think good things are going to happen. I am for strike 1. Nice adjustment out on the mound over through the first one a little bit but got on top and let that ball rip right out in front of them a 1 1 home. This is it high in the air out toward left center Brent will get there and he puts it away to retire the side the Yankees claw back a bit thanks to the home run bottom of the third coming up. It's the Astros 2 and the Yankees 1 and we're back in Houston. Welcome back to Minute Made Park as we check in with Heidi. Thanks Matt. During the commercial break I discussed the Astros offense with Houston's manager and flat out he was very pleased with the quality of their at bats. It's still pretty early in the game but they've seen a lot of pitches already and he thinks the two runs they've pushed across so far is just the beginning given the quality of the at bats they're putting together. Thank you Heidi. Bottom of the inning now digging in for his second at bat Alex Bregman. He flew out in his last at bat. Almost Maddie almost went deep his last AB certainly just missed it with this guy's big power he's feeling pretty good at the dish. Look for him to try and get on something and drive it out of the yard this AB. A ball of no strikes swing and a screamer but this one's not going to stay fair nibbled the corner there but missed two and one. You know what I'm seeing here is a reluctance to throw the fastball. It's like he feels he can't throw the ball right by him right now. Now the two one pitch. No at the ball we all know this guy is a great hitter in a three one count. This is just what he's looking for. He loves to hit when the counts in his favor like this and it's up to a three two full count now. When you get yourself to a three one count and you get a fastball those are the ones you really want to punish couldn't get the bat on it so we'll see if that comes back to Haunted good patience exercised as he works out to walk to lead off the home half of the third and I'm sure the manager is just fine with that. I mean it's better to battle a slugger like that to the end and end up walking and serving on up or he can really hurt you. So up to the plate next will be Jose Altuve with ten runs batted in on five hits in the series. He's a guy to keep an eye on in this one. Here comes the first pitch a two to one score here as we play in a number three and he popped him up. Torres has a play looks it into his glove and there's one gone. That's exactly what they wanted out of that pitch up of the zone. They took him up the ladder. He couldn't get up to it. So that was an easy pop out well executed pitch there. Now with the plate you're gone Alvarez. He was a strikeout victim in his first try. He's set here it comes lying towards center field but he'll close fast out there as he puts it away chest high and the runner will be forced to head back to first the batter the first baseman Uli Eski. Gouriel. So here's Uli Gouriel and RBI double is what he was credited with his first time around. Well he got a good pitch to hit last time up looked for it up in his own and didn't miss it. Those are the pitches you only get maybe once in a B maybe once a game maybe once a week. So he certainly capitalized on it last time and this catches the zone as well. It's 0 and 2 now pretty unusual that you see a 5 hole hitter take two strikes in a row. Typically those are some of the most aggressive batters in the lineup. Now the 0 2 pitch. Stole cold take right there that fastball very well could have sent him packing back to the bench. The 1 2 is swung on and missed he got him one left for Houston. They lead it two to one start of the fourth upcoming but first Heidi Watney is standing by with a report. Thanks Matt. I talked with Yankees manager Aaron Boone during the break about the team's offensive performance so far and overall he's really happy with the app that's they're putting together. Yes they've only scored one run but he said they've done a great job of forcing the pitch count up and he thinks that's going to lead to more offense for them as this game goes on. All right Heidi thank you striding forward now the Yankee cleanup hitter Giancarlo Stanton. He'll be the one to greet Justin Verlander to start the inning. Lofted in the air out to right field on the move is Redick. He makes the catch a great effort to get there and record the first out of the inning now that the centerfielder Mike talking stepping in Mike talkman. He looked to bounce back after striking out his last time up yeah and kind of shocked he got blown away with a fastball you could tell he was late on that one and we'll see if he tries to cheat to something this a big no balls and a strike to count into the wind up here comes the 0 and 1 behind 0 and 2 now and the pitch that misses 1 and 2. Hey the fish ain't biting there on that 0 2 breaking ball but you got to be careful because this pitcher might throw him another one fastball well outside fourth inning of a 2 to 1 ball game to two pitches found away pitch on the way fouled away the 2 2 one more time and it's fouled away you know taking you inside the mind of a batter right here you can't get an auto swing mode you still have to control the strike zone and he can only battle for so long as he's finally set down here after an 8 pitch at bat big curveball for the strike out there and that came after an absolute missile of a fastball even if you recognize the breaking ball out of the pitcher's hand it's so hard for hitters to sit back long enough after they've seen a really good fastball only the best can keep their hands back on those into the box now Gary Sanchez and she'll take a look at a curveball that drops in there on the outer half it's strike one so far 0 for one with a flyout now here's the pitch no could take there to lay off the high fastball one and one one run on three hits and no errors for the Yankees so far one and two now is that one's fouled off got him swinging and that will end the inning so the Yanks go one two three our score remains two to one next up for the Strones George Springer comes into this at bat 0 for one ballgame Joe ringer ready to deliver here's the first pitch this guy's got an eighty nine mile an hour changeup there was a time when eighty nine was a pretty good fastball ball and two strikes now ball inside in a hair low it's two balls and two strikes swaying in a line drive but foul now another two two and this is swung on and missed in this fourth inning will start the same way he ended the third with a strikeout and there's one away another strikeout for him on the mound and boy is it fun to watch him go about his business no doubt Matty he's one of my favorites mostly because of his stuff you know he can absolutely dominate on any given day because of what he offers up there it's just nasty there aren't many hitters that like to see this guy on the mound Carlos Correa comes on with one away as he looks at a ball it's one and oh two runs on two hits no errors in the ballgame for the Astros to this point and two and oh now as this misses below the needs you can see this guy's more focused at the plate right now in that first AB he went down on strikes two balls in a strike hey boys you talking about getting your A swing off right here that's what it looks like a guy with massive power letting it eat Correa in front three balls and a strike do next is Josh Reddick as he gets ready in the on deck circle and a called strike on the outside corner there it's full now three and two oh and he can't catch up to the fastball as he swings and misses for the second out two up two down on strikes in this inning he looks really sharp out there guys got ready stepping in as Josh Reddick as you look at a change up the drops below the knees for ball one the numbers coming in two seventy eight the average five homers and fifteen RBI's Redick waiting and now the pitch fastball and that things a blur up there folks one and one and he takes a ball to and it's two and one Coles ready here's the pitch ball three this is a good at bat so far here with two away if you're going to go down one two three at least make the guy work for it he's doing that and he's even gotten himself into a good hitters count now and it's up to a three two full count now bases are empty here with two men out out in front as this is pulled foul into the seats the next three to and that one's taken outside for a ball he walked him so no one two three ending here they've got themselves a two out baserunner now batting catcher Garrett coming to the play now Garrett Stumps and we'll see if they can make him pay for the two out walk always considered a big no no of course from the stretch off the plate ball one man that's a great take right there backdoor slider just missed the outside corner this guy must have a really good eye most guys swing at that pitch swung on and missed one and one and fast balls too much for him there one and two and he struck him out his eighth punch out of the ballgame and that one ends the inning Astros leave one as they're unable to add to their two to one lead the top of the fifth at the plate Giorgello he got on top of one it was a round out victim last time first pitch on its way from Verlander hard hit ball to second that gets down and he's got himself obeys him all right let's see if that lead off single gets him going right now they've taken it on the chin for most of this game being a little passive at the plate and their approach let's see if that starts him off and they start to go more ambush tactics so now to the plate he'll take a tough pitch on the outside part of the plate for strike one he homered back in the third inning in this one in the dirt here good job keeping it close as the count goes to one and one kicks and deals no offer on that one two balls in the strike and the two one pitch heading out towards shallow right Redick has a read on it and he hauls it in for the first down to the inning now now at the plate Tyler Wayne all for one for him here in this one he's ready here's the first offering hey this is the left handed hitter that can fly down the line if they want to turn to they're going to have to be almost perfect one count and the pitch you got to go into battle mode after falling down 0 2 and find a way to work yourself back to even runners on first with one down down the way it's a ball and two strikes hey he threw that pitch with a purpose to get a double play good job to let it go by though as a hitter here he comes on a ball and two strikes that's lifted the other way out to left Grant Lee is under it and he brings it in for the second out of the inning now about it the dedicated hitter Brett Gardner in now is the Yankees DH Brett Gardner who was a strikeout victim his first trip and then collected a base hit his last time around from the belt the pitch that one doesn't even sniff the zone missing very high swing and misses he ramps up on the fastball one on one can't waste getting the lead off runner on in this situation someone's got to bear down and get a big knock on its way is pitch number seventy five in there at the letters one and two now Berlander starting to run up his pitch counties at seventy five thus far the one two fifth inning two to one our store skied into straight away right and Reddick will put this one away to retire the side Yanks leave one they're down to one here's Michael Brantley he'll get his side started in the inning and so far they've been stifled offensively since the first inning where they sure have went out of the gates and got hot right away but whatever was going for them pretty much has disappeared we'll see if they can wake it back up now pitch on the way chased out of the zone there and he's down two strikes prime tempted with one of the dirt but he'll hold back here it's one and two on he's really got the strikeout pitch work and now is he not just number nine in the ball game third base is your empty with one man gone and that'll bring up Alex Bregman first offering on its way now a fastball that couldn't quite find the zone it's ball one counts even one in one to Alex Bregman bases are empty one man and this one runs a little too far in ball two pretty good pitch right there fastball in off the plate one of the things you want to do as a pitcher try to stand those hitters up lying to the right side and that's into the outfield for a one out base hit now bad the second base with one man gone and striding in the speedy second baseman Jose Al Tuve first pitch of the at bat on its way fly ball right down the line and left and this will wind up a foul ball one strike now from Cole 0 2 once more keep in mind people the longer the at bat the higher the likelihood that this becomes his last inning the one and two pitch and he struck him out so double digits now 10 strikeouts for him thus far that's 10 strikeouts for him now and I'll tell you rack up quite a few more than he's done still a lot of game left in this one Alvarez at the plate you're gone Alvarez as the first pitch to him is off the plate for a ball one and oh and here in just the fifth inning this will be pitch number 100 here boy pitch count up near 100 right now D row and this is when you try to get to a good starting pitcher right now looks like he's running on fumes yeah the manager's got to get a couple people up in the bullpen right now one ball hits the gap they get runners in scoring position this game could be at a commission too well count the pitch three and oh now if I'm managing this hitter right here he doesn't even have to look down at the third base coach you know he's got the green light he's one of the best hitters in your lineup that finds the zone a cold strike got to believe he had the green light in that situation two outs 3 0 count this guy can certainly handle the bat that's a perfect situation to let him loose but I love the fact that he's key holding a certain area and it wasn't what he was looking for and it's full now three and two and that misses ball four so it's first and second now with two out oh man I think this walk is going to grind at him for a bit just missed and now the inning continues with the man in scoring position you Lee Gouriel one for two with a double on the ledgers so far looking to keep this one run game the pitch and that's by him it's 0 and 1 the guy in the mound is having one hack of a night but the downside of that if you're going to strike out a lot of guys your pitch count is going to be high so this gives the offense some kind of hope as this game is getting down to second and this has sliced foul into the stands in right out of play two down runners at first and second third baseline but this will be a foul ball and it's still 0 and 2 0 and 2 here it is grounded back up the middle and that'll get by in the center field for a base hit like the runner from second as this is now with three to one ball game the center fielder number four and now time will be called here as you see the pitching coach making his way out to the man to pay a quick visit George Springer the next to hit as he'll take a look at a pitch too low it's wall one he's hit listen is to add bats so far a pitch on the way a couple of righties starting to loosen now in the bullpen hoping to limit the damage here's the pitch a little bit outside two and one couple strikeouts early in the game but he's done a much better job than this at bat trying to get ahead and put himself at a good hitters count and he fires a fastball now for a called strike to hits are now even at four apiece bouncer to the left side scooped up and they'll go the short way to retire the side Astros forced to settle for only the one run five innings complete Houston leads this one three to one off the inning DJ LeMethier and they'll need him to get something going here things not looking very good so far in this one but we're still in the middle innings they're down by a couple of runs and this would be the right place in the right time to get something going the last thing they want to do is to try to come from behind and win this one in the eighth or ninth inning here's one that misses high it's one and one one and two to DJ LeMethier to two balls and two strikes now swing and a liner but that finds the first baseman's glove and that's a tough first out number ninety nine Aaron judge to play Aaron judge he's over to in the ballgame so far first delivery to him on the way a bouncer up the middle throw on the first and Verlander's got a going here two away now batting left fielder John Carlo John Carlo Giancarlo Stanton now he comes in 0 4 2 thus far here's the first pitch to him the wind up and the 0 1 a swinging strike and now it's 0 and 2 his command has been outstanding so far hitting nearly all of the spots and that's been a big factor why he's been so successful up to this point two out nobody on high in the air and deep to left center field back goes Springer to the track but he can't get to this one it's off the wall and he'll make it the second base now with two gone now batting any hitter would tell you that a shot like that just feels different it sounds different off the bat see his arms get extended right arm tucked up against his body barrel the bat all over the ball and he smokes it right off the wall at left center a little more hang time and that one probably gets out of here to the box Mike Tuckman as he'll look at a slider that runs in too far for ball one no hits to this point he's ready here's the 1 0 clearly off with his timing on that one a swinging strike although he doesn't use that pitch too much if he's able to steal some strikes early in the count could be something they have to think about swing and a miss and it's a ball in two strikes here we're in the sixth inning here in a three to one ball game he struck him out the third time he's fanned in the game danger averted following the two out double we've got more on this Sunday night after this your assessor enters to do the pitching in the bottom of the sixth number eighty five Luis Sessa here's Carlos Correa now no hits in two trips to the plate for him in the ballgame not short stop Carlos Correa first pitch coming here it is way laid on the fastball for strike one he got a swing and a miss on that last pitch but that's not the location he wants to live in against the hitter of this quality off the plate one ball one strike two and one hey that's a nice take by the batter right there but that's a non competitive off speed pitch got to do better to at least in ties to swing gets the sign here comes the two one trying to shave that outside corner with the fastball and he missed it it's three and one now well that's ball three and the Astros right now would do anything to get this leadoff hitter on he fouls this one off full count here here comes the pitch hit hard on the ground towards second he's right there and the throw to first is in time one gun now batting the right field got ready there digging in Josh Redick first pitch on its way out into right center well hit Redick around the bag at first heading for second now pull into second with one away their own picture is now better dealing right now so this is a big moment in this game if his teammates can pick them up and drive them in now that might be all they need to get the W here the plate now Garrett Stubbs this will take a look at a slider here that finds the zone for strike one offer two from him so far in this one to get him to go after the slider but it's one and one and some action out in the Yankee bullpen now as a right hander starts to loosen up one out in a runner on second base and here's one that misses to the Houston catcher it's two and one now the pitch swinging a soft liner and this is taken for the out now batting left left fielder Michael Brent Lee so the batting order turns over now and set to go Michael Brantley runner in scoring position with two gone he's ready here's the first offering trying to keep the deficit right where it is the pitch well struck down the right field line but just fouls as he just misses extra bases hits or even right now at five aside and he missed with it's one and two he wasn't even close to swinging right there that was a stone cold take three comes on a ball and two strikes good slider there but laid off and called the ball low and he misses this one inside and that'll run things full three and two Wow this is a pretty good at bat right here from down an account 0 and 2 to work to count back to 3 and 2 and he's seen a lot of pitches to two out here in a game and he goes down on strikes for the third time one left for Houston and it's still three to one the inning Gary Sanchez as they look to get something going here and even this game up even though we're moving into the back end of this game they're only down by a couple of runs you know that old slogan of bloop and a blast they could certainly use that right now slap hard the opposite way and that finds the outfield grass for a base hit and he's able to hustle his way up the second as he'll reach here with a two base hit that's what you call a clutch piece of hitting down two runs he puts himself in scoring position and brings the tying run to the plate we'll see what they do with the base open here this one's getting interested in Giovanni your shell as he'll watch a slider that stays inside for ball one one for two in the ball game thus far breaking ball that time that misses out of his own some action out in the bullpen couple of right starting to loosen up doing one now we're in the seventh inning with a good finish brewing three to one our score sent foul again and after being way ahead now it's even a two and two this is swung on and hit to Al to be a second and the off balance throw gets him nice play for the out the battle the cook the labor in Torres he homered back in the third inning in this one first delivery to him on the eighth inning strike and now it's only two this is rare as a batter you got to find a way to put something in the outfield get something elevated I know you got a battle with two strikes and protect but if anything is belter above you got a swing looking for the strikeout here's the oh two pitch great job of running that fastball in on his hands right there with two strikes even though the batter is able to foul at one off he set up for almost anything in this pitchers arsenal Yankee short stop behind in the count one and two right guy right spot this one of the better hitters in their lineup just the guy they want to see coming up now to get this in and go in the dirt and block behind the plate but it won't skip away far enough for the runner to advance Verlander still with one earned run on his line through six and a third swing and a miss and they'll dodge a major bullet that time two away that strikeout changes the whole complexion of the inning he was definitely pitching for it with a runner on third and one out and he got it now it's going to take a hit or something like a wild pitch to get that guy home plate now Tyler Wade and so look at a breaking ball that misses for ball one he's hit listen is to add bats so far just off the outside corner ball to I'd be real surprised if he goes back out away there on the mound this is a count for a fastball challenge and we'll see if he's ready for it in the box now the two oh just threw that fastball by him this pitchers bringing it with some high below you better get that front foot down early and get ready or he's going to throw right by it got him swinging in the dirt the first is in time and the inning is over back to back strikeouts keep him out of danger back with more Sunday night baseball following this he'll come on in relief now as he'll make his tenth appearance of the season number sixty one Ben Heller at the plate Alex Bregman he reached on a single last time and later wound up scoring the third baseman Alex Bregman first offering on its way low for ball one Heller 28 years old he was taken in the 22nd round back in the draft of 2013 I know this guy wouldn't go into the category of superstar but to grind out the career he has being drafted where he was my hats off to him and this is a fastball that's right on the black but ruled a ball that's two and oh now down low and the plot thickens here three and oh every baserunner in a close game like this really matters so you can't afford to be giving out free passes this late three and one to count now and a full count now three and two swing and a miss and they'll come all the way back from three and oh to punch him out one away well we've seen some really good pitching down in this one the bullpen has looked sharp and it backed up a nice effort turned in by the starter these days pitching has become a full staff effort and I've been impressed with the job these guys have done so far stepping in now Jose Al Tuve as the first pitch misses to him it's ball one oh for two for him to this point one ball one strike to count one ball and two strikes to count one out nobody on like the fastball got away from him there it's ball two B and two now three two counts are usually a time to challenge the hitter but I think he'll be careful here shoot for the corner and if you miss and you walk him so what that's better than him putting one in the seats off pitch home is a swing and a miss that strike three no problems for him on the Mount since he's come out of the pen to start this inning that's about the bat case and he's making it look pretty this has the makings of a good outing so far Alvarez so now to the plate you're done Alvarez as he'll take a look at one one he's 0 for two in the ballgame so far on a home bases are empty here with two men out maybe too much break on the slider two and one and on that one and crushed it just pulled it a little foul here now the two two pretty easy pitch to lay off there two and two not even close to being in the strike zone he made it easy for the hitter in that one and he lets him off the hook there as this isn't even close for ball four so that's the second he's worked in this one yeah and that seems to be a popular approach when this guy steps in he can really hurt you with one swing so I think the idea is mostly not to let this one guy beat you Matt so it's a runner at first with two men out and digging into bat next the Cuban import Yuli Guriel on the stretch here's the pitch the one oh a swinging bunt out in front of the plate and as it turns out the two out walk doesn't come around to haunt him as that ends the inning Astros leave one but they hang on to a three to one lead Joe Smith will come on out of the bullpen as he'll be appearing in this third game this season number thirty eight Joe ready to begin the eighth now at the plate Brett Gardner he's working on a one for three and a half to go as far right guard pitch on the way on one pitch and a good sinker there but he can't find the zone two and one Smith was known as a short relief specialist a guy who came in got one or two big outs but with the new pace of play rules they're forcing a change for this right hander to two that's lifted the other way out to left after it is Brantley but he won't get to it and this should put a man in scoring position to start the inning not in time and he's in there with a double man that's not like self defense in a real quality swing but hey he muscle it out there and it was enough to get him safely the second those are the kind of hits that will drive you nuts as a pitcher at the plate DJ LeMayhew as he'll go after the first pitch and bounce it into foul territory eighth inning of this low scoring affair three to one our score and he misses with it one and one from the belt kicks and deals hit in the air down the right field line but this will wind up being a foul ball to try again one to ball sent back up the middle there is out to play first is in time for the first down to a runner stands at third one man is out and that'll bring up the former American League rookie of the year big Aaron judge first pitch on its way one out and a runner on third and here's a foul ball just off to the right as they get ahead of him here nothing in two and it's a ball and two strikes not Aaron judge well I'll tell you he's not hitting over 300 by luck he really knows the strike zone and his own strengths that last take is a great example one to offering look like a slider that time but it's two and two all right no more hope and he's going to chase it's two and two now you've got to come up with the best pitch right here because this is definitely a strikeout situation slider there swung on and missed as he's down on strikes for the second time tonight classic slider down in a way for the strikeout there not a whole lot to say about that pitch that hasn't been said a million times already that's just a real tough pitch for a hitter to pick up out of a pitcher's hand so they end up chasing when they're in protect mode and digging into the batter's box next will be Giancarlo Stanton fielded cleanly onto the first base McGuriel and that will end the inning one left for the Yankees score holds it's three to one Tommy Keenley is on to pitch out of the bullpen in the bottom half of the age number 48 Tommy Keenley ready once again George Springer you could really use it not here over three in the game so far Joe Bringer first pitch at the at bat on its way and this one's downstairs it's a ball and a strike one and one here it comes here's a big swing now by Springer but he was a little early that time as it finds the seats foul there's a shin high slider laid off for a ball fouled away good to first the Mayhew's got it throws in time and that's out number one the batter number one good stop Carlos Correa stepping into the box Carlos Correa hole for three with a couple of strikeouts for him to this point in the ballgame comes set here's the nothing and nothing pitch action in the bullpen now as a right hander begins to throw out there the 1 0 it's a lot easier to hit when you're putting yourself in good hitters counts this guy's done a great job not swinging at pitchers pitches and when he's getting the ball in his own he's getting the barrel to it he's been hot lately a strike and it's two and one gutsy pitch right there to change up for a strike good call by the catcher great execution by the pitcher the 2 1 home that's in there and it'll run the count to full 3 and 2 bases are empty one man out still hanging with him another good swing to keep it going he's set here's the 3 and 2 and he looks at one that misses and that's an excellent job of making his man throw a lot of pitches as he tuffs out a wall now batter the right field the runner at first now with one away and that brings up the former Gold Lover Josh Redick as a look now the pitch 1 0 runner at first year one man out ball in a straight one in one Redick behind a ball in two strikes that's the exact spot to lean on it as a reliever as a hitter you just have to tip your cap and look for the next one Redick waiting and now the pitch and he lays off a pitch outside as they draw even at two and two swing and a miss on the change up and there are two gone now batter stepping in ready for another shot Garrett Stumps he's hit listen three at bats to this point he's set and the pitch and who looks like he got the call there on the pitch inside it's nothing in one and it's quickly oh and two runner on first with two away fastball just misses that's ball one two and two count to the Astros catcher two two doesn't get his own count full now good spot for an RBI put the ball in play with the runner in motion he could score all the way from first good battle count remains full and he takes ball four so a good job out of the nine hole and getting on base as we go back to the top of the order the left fielder number twenty three Adam on a Vino enters here looking to get the final out before the ninth inning now pitching for the New York Yankees number zero Adam on a Vino Michael Brantley will be his first assignment here as he'll face him with runners at first and second and two away from the stretch and he lays off there one and oh the pitch lying to the right side and that'll get down out there near the wall he pulls into second safely as also on the play a run comes across to score number two. Hey Dero that's a big RBI right there this lead to three takes a lot of pressure off your pitcher going into the bottom part of the inning. Yeah Dan no doubt as an offense all you're trying to do is put your pitchers in positions to be successful giving them that three run cushion has to make you feel good with the first pitch here it comes that one bends into the zone a strike on the breaking ball. No problem with that take right there first pitch from a reliever got to calibrate that velocity. The 0 1 offering runners at second and third with two gone swing and a miss as the slider sets him down for the final out of the inning Astros pick up a run on the RBI double last chance coming up here for the bombers. It's now four to one Houston Roberto Ozuna takes the ball now and ending number nine looking to close the door all set to start the ninth in this one stepping into the box Mike Tuckman he struck out swinging in his last trip to the plate. Yeah Matty big time K last time up and it's been a tough series for him so far. You can tell he's just not seeing the ball off this team let's see if he can make an adjustment right here on one delivery. Here's a late swing and a miss strike to he knows full well he's sitting on a hat trick right here. All he's trying to do is avoid the golden sombrero and it's fouled away. Oh to delivery and he'll strike out here yet again as it's been a ballgame to forget thus far for strikeouts and there are the final numbers for the Astros starting pitcher and it was really in command on the mound throughout the evening. Yeah he looked really dialed in from start to finish. This is the kind of out of you hope for every time you go out there. So I think he'll feel pretty good about the effort he put forth in this one into the box now. Gary Sanchez strike one to start the at bat nobody on hold slowly down the first base line on the first in time and the Yankees are down to their final out now now batting the third base Gio Urshela into the box now Gio Urshela he comes to the plate as the last chance for his side two out here in the ninth. He's ready. Here's the first offer and here's a fastball called for strike one barring any late turnaround this win would belong to Justin Verlander two out nobody on takes this the other way to right and that's in for his second hit of the afternoon. Dan this guy's on fire used to say all the time it's about 150 a B's to 200 a B's where you start figuring out what type of season you're going to have. He's obviously in May and he's on fire. Dero he's been locked in from day one of this season. It's continuing right now anything that is around the strike so he feels he can get the barrel to it and he continues to hit line drives. He's got a hit in three at bats to this point. Now the pitch one in one hit to third. Bregman fields it cleanly but it's a wide throw to second and they can't get the out and they won't get him as he's able to advance from first to third on what would certainly be scored a throwing error and as a former pitcher I can tell you nothing is more painful than having to get extra outs in an inning. That should have been out number three there instead. He has to refocus and get back to work. So coming to the plate. Tyler Wade and then what's the plan of attack here for the guy on the mound. Well I think they have to go right after him. He's pretty unlikely to take you deep but if you allow him to get on base the chances of him scoring in time this game become a lot greater. Ready with the first pitch. Here it comes. Good fastball as he gets the swing and a miss with runners in scoring position this season Wade is exactly a four hundred hitter. These are the type of hitters that absolutely frustrate a pitching staff and a pitching coach. He's not trying to do a ton of damage but he's certainly going to put the ball in play and be a pest the entire season. Runners on first and third two away. He always feels good to win a baseball game but when you can win one at home in front of your home crowd all those fans cheering this is a good win for this team. A four to one finish in this evening's game Houston jumped out to an early lead in the first and never looked back Justin Verlander earns his sixth winning decision in this one. Garrett Cole struck out 10 in the losing effort. Roberto Ozuna earns the save out of the bullpen his 14th so that's a wrap here tonight for Mark DeRosa Dan please act and Heidi Watney this is Matt Vaskersen you've been watching MLB the show for more find us on Twitter at MLB the show.