<![CDATA[Yankees choke late in stunning loss to Astros, Jose Altuve]]> https://usagag.com/2021/07/11/yankees-choke-late-in-stunning-loss-to-astros-jose-altuve/ Sun, 11 Jul 2021 18:20:55 +0000 hourly 1 https://usagag.com Yankees choke late in stunning loss to Astros, Jose Altuve HOUSTON — Jose Altuve got the Yankees again.

The Yankees finished off the first half of the season with a disastrous 8-7 loss at Minute Maid Park, as Domingo German and Chad Green blew a five-run lead in the ninth, with Altuve finishing it with a game-winning three-run homer.

German allowed the first two batters of the ninth to reach and Green gave up a two-run double to Chas McCormick to make it 7-4.

Abraham Toro followed with a shot to right that Aaron Judge couldn’t chase down for an RBI double to cut the Yankees’ lead to two runs.

Jose Altuve celebrates his game-winning home run against the Yankees on Sunday.
AP

After a visit from pitching coach Matt Blake, pinch-hitter Jason Castro singled to center, moving Toro to third.

Green got Martin Maldonado on a soft liner to short for the first out.

Altuve, who famously wouldn’t let his teammates rip off his jersey after he beat the Yankees in the 2019 ALCS, then slammed a homer and his teammates ripped off his jersey after he crossed the plate.

Earlier, Maldonado homered in the third and tugged at his jersey — mimicking Judge’s mocking of Altuve following his homer on Saturday.

On Sunday, the Astros got the last laugh.

Gary Sanchez hit a three-run homer, but it wasn’t enough.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Dan Martin

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