Juan Soto knocks in five as Yankees thrash Astros

Field Level Media|published: Wed 8th May, 21:59 2024

May 8, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) reacts after hitting a fly ball to center field during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. credits: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Juan Soto hit a two-run homer two batters into the bottom of the first inning and finished with five RBIs as the host New York Yankees continued their recent success against the Houston Astros with a 9-4 victory on Wednesday.

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton added solo shots as the Yankees won their fifth straight and beat the Astros for the ninth consecutive time. New York is 6-0 in the season series that ends Thursday and is 11-2 against Houston since the start of last season.

Soto hit a 440-foot homer into the back off the Houston bullpen beyond the left field fence when he connected against Houston rookie Spencer Arrighetti's first-pitch fastball to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. It was his ninth home run of the season.

Judge lined a 404-foot drive into the right-center-field seats to open the third for a 4-1 lead, his eighth long ball of the year. Two batters later, Stanton lifted a 1-2 curveball into the second deck in left field for a 447-foot drive to left, also his eighth homer.

It was the first time this season the trio homered in the same game.

Soto also had an RBI infield single in the second, a run-scoring groundout in the sixth and an RBI single in the eighth.

Judge had three hits, including a two-run double that pushed New York's lead to 8-1 in the sixth.

New York's Carlos Rodon (3-2) rebounded from getting shelled last week in Baltimore, as he allowed two runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings against the Astros. Rodon struck out seven, walked none and exited to a nice ovation from the crowd.

Rodon matched his win total from last season and highlighted his outing by retiring Jose Altuve three times, including with two on in the fifth.

Kyle Tucker and Jeremy Pena homered, their 11th and fourth, respectively, but the Astros dropped their fourth game in a row. Jake Meyers hit an RBI triple that chased Rodon, and Altuve added an RBI single in the ninth.

Arrighetti (0-4) was tagged for five runs on eight hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked three.

—Field Level Media